Which of the following is NOT considered a prohibited act under the Fair Housing Practices Act?

The choice highlighting a landlord choosing a roommate of the same gender is not considered a prohibited act under the Fair Housing Practices Act. This selection makes sense because the Act primarily guards against discrimination in housing based on certain protected characteristics, such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability.

The law focuses on ensuring that individuals have equal access to housing opportunities and are not unfairly discriminated against based on the aforementioned criteria. Choosing a roommate based on gender does not inherently violate the principles of fair housing, as it pertains to personal preferences rather than discriminatory practices against a protected class.

In contrast, the other options listed—steering towards specific neighborhoods, requiring higher deposits from minorities, and refusing to show properties to certain groups—are all discriminatory practices that violate the Fair Housing Practices Act. These actions perpetuate systemic discrimination and inequality, which the Act aims to eliminate in the housing market.