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1. Landlord - Tenant
2. Discrimination
3. Laws Against Housing Discrimination
   
   Laws Against Housing Discrimination
   
   Federal Law State Law What is Prohibited? Special Provisions for People with Disabilities Discrimination against Families with Children Exemptions to the Fair Housing Act Enforcement Provisions and Penalties for Violations of the Law
   
   Federal law forbids discrimination in the leasing, sale, marketing and financing of housing on the basis of your race, color, faith, gender, nationwide origin, household status, i.e., pregnancy or having custody of a child under age 18 or impairment. Maryland and a lot of its regional jurisdictions have at least similar laws, as well as additional protections.
   
   The national policy against housing discrimination is specified in the federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. In addition, there are provisions in the Civil Rights Act of 1866 which the Supreme Court of the United States has translated as restricting "all racial discrimination, private in addition to public, in the sale or leasing of residential or commercial property." Unlike the 1968 law, the 1866 law contains no exceptions and no limit on the quantity of damages which can be granted to a complainant.
   
   Who is Protected?
   
   The federal Fair Housing Act is consisted of in Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. It was amended in 1974 and again in 1978. The Fair Housing Act forbids housing discrimination versus an individual who falls in any of the following 7 groups. Anyone dealt with unfairly due to the fact that of: race, color, religious beliefs, nationwide origin, sex, families with kids and people with impairments (handicap). These seven groups are considered "safeguarded classes" under the Act and its changes. "Protected classes" imply the classifications of discrimination that are covered by the law.
   
   Read the Law: The Fair Housing Act of 1968 (42 USC 3601, et seq.)
   
   The courts have actually said that Maryland's law is "significantly equivalent" to the federal law. In 2 crucial respects, Maryland offers more protection. First, Maryland broadens on the protected classes of the federal law. You can not be discriminated versus because of your marital status, gender identification, sexual preference, or source of earnings.
   
   Marital status is defined as "the state of being single, married, separated, divorced or widowed." "Sexual preference" means the recognition of an individual as to male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. Gender identity is specified to indicate the gender related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of a person, no matter the individual's assigned sex at birth. In addition, there is a limit to the exemption for rooms or systems in a residence in which the owner occupies an unit as his/her principal home. In Maryland, these owners may reject someone based upon sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status. However, they can not victimize someone due to the fact that of his/her race, color, religious beliefs, family status, nationwide origin, impairment, or source of earnings.
   
   Read the Law: Md. Code, State Government, § 20-101, 20-704, 20-705
   
   Local jurisdictions (such as the counties or towns) likewise safeguard all of the groups covered by federal and state law and typically include extra categories such as age (in Baltimore City, 18 or older), sexual preference, occupation and income source. See regional law short articles.
   
   The Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to devote any of the following acts against an individual who falls within any of the groups secured by the law.
   
   Sale or Rental of Residential Real Estate - Refuse to sell, rent or otherwise make unavailable or reject any home