Hawaii Pre-Licensing National Practice Exam 2026 – Your Complete Prep Guide

A landlord may violate fair housing laws by refusing to rent to someone based on their nationality because such actions are discriminatory and directly contravene the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. Nationality is considered a protected characteristic, and landlords must treat all prospective tenants equally regardless of their background or identity.

In contrast, refusing to rent to a person with a pet, denying rental based on a tenant’s credit score, or not allowing children in the complex may not inherently violate fair housing laws unless they can be proven to be discriminatory practices. For example, restrictions on pets may be related to property management policies rather than discrimination against a protected class. Similarly, using a credit score as a basis for rental decisions could be a standard business practice unless it disproportionately affects individuals in a protected category. Rules regarding children may be permissible in certain types of housing, such as senior living, as long as they comply with the legal exceptions under fair housing regulations.