Washington Fair Housing
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)
Fair housing is tested on every real estate exam in the country, but Washington candidates must know both federal and state-level protections. While Washington enforces the seven federal protected classes (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability), the Washington Department of Licensing also tests how these protections apply in Washington-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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Washington Fair Housing — Practice Questions & Answers
108 questions on Fair Housing from the Washington real estate question bank. First 10 are free — sign up to unlock all 108.
Q1. Washington State's Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) includes protected classes beyond the federal Fair Housing Act, including:
Explanation
Washington's Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60) extends fair housing protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, which are not federal protected classes under the Fair Housing Act.
Q2. Which of the following is an example of blockbusting?
Explanation
Blockbusting (also called panic peddling) is the illegal practice of inducing panic sales by telling homeowners that members of a protected class are moving into their neighborhood, thereby profiting from the transactions.
Q3. Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following buildings is EXEMPT from the prohibition on discrimination based on familial status?
Explanation
The Fair Housing Act provides an exemption for qualified senior housing: communities where 80% of units have at least one resident age 55 or older and the community follows HUD's age verification procedures.
Q4. A Washington landlord refuses to rent to a family because they have children. This is:
Explanation
Familial status is a protected class under the federal Fair Housing Act. Refusing to rent to families with children (under age 18) is illegal discrimination unless the property qualifies as senior housing.
Q5. The federal Fair Housing Act was passed in:
Explanation
The federal Fair Housing Act was enacted in 1968 as Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, and sex.
Q6. Washington's Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60) applies to:
Explanation
Washington's Law Against Discrimination (RCW 49.60) broadly prohibits discrimination in all real estate transactions — sales, rentals, financing, and brokerage services — across all property types.
Q7. Under Washington's RCW 49.60, marital status is a protected class. This means a Washington landlord may NOT:
Explanation
Marital status is protected under RCW 49.60. A landlord may not discriminate against single people, require special requirements solely due to marital status, or advertise preferences based on marital status.
Q8. In Washington, redlining refers to the illegal practice of:
Explanation
Redlining is the illegal practice of denying loans, insurance, or other financial services in certain geographic areas based on the racial or ethnic composition of those areas, violating fair lending and fair housing laws.
Q9. A Washington property manager posts a rental ad stating 'perfect for young professionals.' This statement may violate fair housing because:
Explanation
Language like 'young professionals' implies a preference against families with children (familial status) and potentially people of a certain age. Such language in advertising can constitute fair housing violations.
Q10. Under the Fair Housing Act, a real estate broker who steers buyers of a certain race to specific neighborhoods is committing:
Explanation
Steering is the illegal practice of guiding buyers or renters toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on protected class characteristics such as race, national origin, or religion.
Q11. A Washington landlord may legally refuse to rent to an applicant who:
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