CRM Fair Housing Laws 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is considered a protected class at the federal level?
- Occupation
- Familial status (Correct answer)
- Income level
- Credit score
Correct answer: Familial status
Familial status is one of the seven federally protected classes under the Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended in 1988.
Question 2: A property manager refuses to show a unit to a prospective tenant because she has three children. This is an example of:
- Blockbusting
- Redlining
- Familial status discrimination (Correct answer)
- Steering
Correct answer: Familial status discrimination
Refusing to rent to someone because they have children constitutes familial status discrimination under the Fair Housing Act.
Question 3: Which federal agency primarily enforces the Fair Housing Act?
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (Correct answer)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Department of Justice (DOJ)
Correct answer: Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
HUD is the primary federal agency responsible for enforcing the Fair Housing Act and investigating complaints.
Question 4: An ad stating 'Ideal for young professionals — no families please' violates fair housing because it discriminates based on:
- Race and national origin
- Familial status and age (Correct answer)
- Disability and sex
- Religion and color
Correct answer: Familial status and age
The phrase 'no families' discriminates on familial status, and implying an age preference may also implicate protected characteristics.
Question 5: A landlord charges a higher security deposit to a tenant who uses a wheelchair. This practice violates fair housing protections related to:
- Race
- National origin
- Disability (Correct answer)
- Familial status
Correct answer: Disability
Charging different terms or conditions based on a person's disability is prohibited under the Fair Housing Act.
Question 6: Which of the following statements about reasonable accommodations is correct?
- Landlords may charge a fee for processing accommodation requests
- Tenants must provide detailed medical records to obtain any accommodation
- Landlords must allow necessary modifications if the tenant pays for them (Correct answer)
- Accommodations are only required in federally subsidized housing
Correct answer: Landlords must allow necessary modifications if the tenant pays for them
Reasonable modifications must be permitted by the landlord in private housing, with the cost generally borne by the tenant with a disability.
Question 7: The concept of 'disparate impact' in fair housing means:
- Intentional discrimination against a protected class
- A policy that is neutral on its face but disproportionately harms a protected class (Correct answer)
- Refusing to make a reasonable accommodation
- Steering tenants toward certain neighborhoods
Correct answer: A policy that is neutral on its face but disproportionately harms a protected class
Disparate impact occurs when a neutral policy results in a disproportionately negative effect on members of a protected class, even without discriminatory intent.
CRM Fair Housing Laws 2
Under the Fair Housing Act, which of the following is considered a protected class at the federal level?