CHI Regulatory & Fair Housing Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is NOT a protected class at the federal level?
- Race
- Source of income (Correct answer)
- National origin
- Familial status
Correct answer: Source of income
Source of income is not a federally protected class under the FHA, though some states and localities have added it.
Question 2: A home inspector discovers that a property has been modified with grab bars and widened doorways. Under the Fair Housing Act, the inspector should recognize these as:
- Code violations requiring removal
- Reasonable modifications made by a person with a disability (Correct answer)
- Unpermitted structural alterations
- Seller-required disclosures
Correct answer: Reasonable modifications made by a person with a disability
The FHA allows tenants or owners with disabilities to make reasonable modifications to accommodate their needs.
Question 3: Which federal agency primarily enforces the Fair Housing Act?
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (Correct answer)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Correct answer: Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD is the primary federal agency responsible for administering and enforcing the Fair Housing Act.
Question 4: An inspector notes that a multi-family building built in 1993 lacks accessible routes to all units. This is most likely a violation of:
- Americans with Disabilities Act only
- Fair Housing Act accessibility requirements (Correct answer)
- OSHA residential standards
- Local zoning ordinances
Correct answer: Fair Housing Act accessibility requirements
The FHA requires that multi-family dwellings built after March 13, 1991 meet specific accessibility design standards.
Question 5: What is the statute of limitations for filing a fair housing complaint with HUD?
- 6 months
- 1 year (Correct answer)
- 2 years
- 3 years
Correct answer: 1 year
A complaint must be filed with HUD within one year of the alleged discriminatory act.
Question 6: A home inspector working for a lender is asked to produce a report that downplays defects in a neighborhood the lender considers 'undesirable.' The inspector should:
- Follow the lender's instructions to retain the client
- Refuse and provide an honest, unbiased report (Correct answer)
- Note the issues privately but omit them from the report
- Transfer the assignment to another inspector
Correct answer: Refuse and provide an honest, unbiased report
Inspectors must provide honest, unbiased reports regardless of client instructions; participating in redlining-type practices violates ethical and legal standards.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'blockbusting' under fair housing law?
- Converting single-family homes to multi-family units without permits
- Inducing homeowners to sell by claiming minorities are moving into the area (Correct answer)
- Refusing to issue building permits in certain neighborhoods
- Requiring higher inspection fees in low-income areas
Correct answer: Inducing homeowners to sell by claiming minorities are moving into the area
Blockbusting is the illegal practice of persuading homeowners to sell cheaply by exploiting fears about racial or ethnic integration.
CHI Regulatory & Fair Housing Compliance 2
Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is NOT a protected class at the federal level?