What is a protected characteristic under the Fair Housing Act but not covered by ECOA?

The Fair Housing Act (FHA) provides a broad range of protections against discrimination in housing based on several characteristics. While the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) also aims to prevent discrimination, it has a different scope with respect to certain categories.

Handicap, which falls under the protections of the Fair Housing Act, refers to individuals with physical or mental disabilities. This characteristic is specifically provided for in the FHA to ensure equal access to housing and to protect individuals from discrimination based on their disability status. The ECOA, on the other hand, does not explicitly include handicap as a protected characteristic when it comes to lending practices. Instead, it focuses on categories like race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, and age (with age being more about the appraisal process and not about active discrimination).

The other characteristics listed in the question, such as national origin, are covered under both the Fair Housing Act and the ECOA. Gender identity, while not explicitly stated in the original Fair Housing Act, has been interpreted by some court rulings and guidance documents to fall within the scope of sex discrimination.

In conclusion, handicap is the distinguishing characteristic that the Fair Housing Act specifically protects but is not covered by the ECOA, highlighting