What behavior constitutes illegal discrimination in housing?

Illegal discrimination in housing occurs when individuals are treated differently based on protected characteristics, such as race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and religion. This is in violation of federal laws, including the Fair Housing Act, which aims to prevent discrimination and promote equal housing opportunities.

When housing providers make decisions about renting or selling that are influenced by these protected characteristics, it creates an unequal playing field, denying certain groups the same opportunities afforded to others. This not only perpetuates systemic inequalities but also undermines the principle of fair treatment in housing contexts.

The other options may involve legitimate business practices that do not inherently discriminate against individuals based on their protected characteristics, thus distinguishing them from acts of illegal discrimination. For example, adjusting service widths based on need addresses individual requirements rather than treating people differently based on race or religion.