Which statement best defines pattern or practice discrimination under the Fair Housing Act?

Which statement best defines pattern or practice discrimination under the Fair Housing Act?

• A. Isolated incidents by a broker that harm an individual.
• B. Random policy changes affecting all tenants equally.
• C. Systematic discriminatory acts or policies by a person or organization that affect a group of people of a protected class.
• D. Illegal acts by a third party not connected to housing decisions.

Answer: (C)

Pattern or practice discrimination means a housing provider or organization systematically enacts or enforces policies that have a discriminatory effect on people in a protected class. It isn’t just a single biased act; it shows a repeated, company-wide approach or formal policy that targets groups defined by race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. Under the FHA, such conduct is unlawful because it demonstrates a discriminatory framework rather than an isolated mistake. For example, a landlord who consistently refuses to show units to families with children, or a lender who applies stricter approval standards to applicants of a certain race due to an established policy, illustrates a pattern or practice. In contrast, isolated incidents, policies that affect everyone the same way, or discriminatory acts by a third party not connected to housing decisions do not fit this concept.

Pattern or practice discrimination means a housing provider or organization systematically enacts or enforces policies that have a discriminatory effect on people in a protected class. It isn’t just a single biased act; it shows a repeated, company-wide approach or formal policy that targets groups defined by race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. Under the FHA, such conduct is unlawful because it demonstrates a discriminatory framework rather than an isolated mistake. For example, a landlord who consistently refuses to show units to families with children, or a lender who applies stricter approval standards to applicants of a certain race due to an established policy, illustrates a pattern or practice. In contrast, isolated incidents, policies that affect everyone the same way, or discriminatory acts by a third party not connected to housing decisions do not fit this concept.