Which of the following is NOT a protected class under the Fair Housing Act?

• A. Race
• B. Disability
• C. Age
• D. Religion

Answer: (C)

Discrimination protections in housing under the Fair Housing Act target specific characteristics. The classes protected are race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. Age isn’t included among these protected categories, so there isn’t FHA coverage that makes housing decisions illegal simply because someone is older or younger. There are separate laws that address age in other contexts, and some senior housing exemptions exist under the FHA, but for general housing protections, age is not a protected characteristic. That’s why the option referring to age is the one that does not fit as a protected class under the Fair Housing Act. The other choices—race, disability, and religion—are protected.