Familial status definition question: which scenario best demonstrates familial status protection?

• A. A 17-year-old living with a parent
• B. A 25-year-old renting alone
• C. A 40-year-old renting with no children
• D. A 60-year-old renting with a spouse

Answer: (A)

Familial status protection covers households with someone under 18 in the home (and can include the expectation of a child). This means landlords may not discriminate against families with children. In the scenario described, a 17-year-old living with a parent clearly shows a child in the household, which makes that family fall under familial status protection. The landlord must treat this household the same as others and cannot impose different terms or deny housing based on having a minor in the home. The other scenarios involve adults with no children, so they do not trigger familial status protections.