Multifamily Housing under The Fair Housing Act

Multifamily Housing are buildings with multiple separate living units (duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, and large apartment complexes). The law treats these differently based on the number of units.A. Buildings with 5 or More Units:Status: ALWAYS COVERED.There are no exemptions for private owners here. If you own an apartment complex with 20 units, you strictly follow the Fair Housing Act.B. Buildings with 4 or Fewer Units:Status: USUALLY COVERED, UNLESS...The "Mrs. Murphy" Exemption: If the building has 4 units or less AND the owner lives in one of the units as their permanent residence, they are exempt.As a licensed agent, these exemptions basically do not apply to you. If a client asks you to help them lease their "Mrs. Murphy" duplex but says, "Don't show it to families with kids," you must refuse the listing. You cannot facilitate discrimination, even if the owner is technically allowed to do it on their own.