Maryland Fair Housing
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)
Fair housing is tested on every real estate exam in the country, but Maryland candidates must know both federal and state-level protections. While Maryland enforces the seven federal protected classes (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability), the Maryland Real Estate Commission also tests how these protections apply in Maryland-specific rental, sales, and advertising scenarios. Steering, blockbusting, redlining, and discriminatory advertising are all tested — and candidates who think they know fair housing cold often miss the state-specific extensions or the nuanced application scenarios. Review every question here carefully.
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Maryland Fair Housing — Practice Questions & Answers
100 questions on Fair Housing from the Maryland real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 100.
Q1. Maryland's fair housing law adds which protected classes beyond the seven federal protected classes?
Explanation
Maryland's fair housing law adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and marital status as protected classes, providing broader protections than the federal Fair Housing Act.
Q2. Under Maryland fair housing law, a landlord who refuses to accept Section 8 (Housing Choice Voucher) tenants may be violating the protected class of:
Explanation
Maryland prohibits discrimination based on source of income in many jurisdictions. Refusing to accept housing vouchers (Section 8) may constitute illegal discrimination based on source of income.
Q3. Which of the following is an example of disparate impact discrimination in fair housing?
Explanation
Disparate impact occurs when a facially neutral policy or practice has a disproportionately adverse effect on members of a protected class, even if there was no discriminatory intent.
Q4. A tenant with a disability requests permission to install grab bars in the bathroom of their rented unit. Under the Fair Housing Act, the landlord must:
Explanation
Under the Fair Housing Act, a landlord must allow a tenant with a disability to make reasonable modifications (such as installing grab bars) at the tenant's expense, typically with an agreement to restore the unit upon vacating.
Q5. The federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits discrimination based on which protected classes?
Explanation
The federal Fair Housing Act covers seven classes: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability (handicap).
Q6. The Maryland Fair Housing Act adds which protected class NOT covered by the federal Fair Housing Act?
Explanation
Maryland adds sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes, providing broader protection than the federal law.
Q7. Blockbusting in real estate is best described as:
Explanation
Blockbusting (panic selling) involves inducing homeowners to sell by exploiting fears that protected groups are moving into the neighborhood, which is an illegal fair housing violation.
Q8. Steering in real estate means:
Explanation
Steering is the illegal practice of directing buyers or renters toward or away from certain areas based on their protected class status.
Q9. Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is an allowable exemption?
Explanation
A private individual selling their own home (FSBO) with no agent and no discriminatory advertising is exempt from the Fair Housing Act under certain conditions.
Q10. A landlord who refuses to allow a tenant with a disability to install grab bars in the bathroom is likely violating:
Explanation
The Fair Housing Act requires landlords to allow tenants with disabilities to make reasonable modifications to the property at the tenant's expense.
Q11. The maximum civil penalty for a FIRST violation of the Fair Housing Act, as enforced by HUD, is:
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