CRM Fair Housing Laws 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of 'steering' under fair housing law?
- Showing a Muslim applicant only apartments in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood (Correct answer)
- Refusing to rent to any applicant with a prior eviction
- Charging all applicants the same application fee
- Requiring all tenants to carry renters insurance
Correct answer: Showing a Muslim applicant only apartments in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood
Steering is the illegal practice of directing prospective tenants toward or away from certain areas based on protected class characteristics.
Question 2: Under the Fair Housing Act, 'blockbusting' refers to:
- Refusing to insure properties in minority neighborhoods
- Inducing homeowners to sell by warning that minorities are moving into the area (Correct answer)
- Denying loans based on the racial composition of a neighborhood
- Advertising properties only in racially segregated media
Correct answer: Inducing homeowners to sell by warning that minorities are moving into the area
Blockbusting is the illegal practice of persuading owners to sell cheaply by exploiting fears about changing neighborhood demographics.
Question 3: A tenant with severe anxiety requests permission to have an emotional support animal in a no-pets building. The landlord should:
- Deny the request because the no-pets policy applies equally to all tenants
- Charge a pet deposit equal to one month's rent before allowing the animal
- Engage in an interactive process and grant the request if it is reasonable (Correct answer)
- Require the tenant to move to a pet-friendly unit at a higher rent
Correct answer: Engage in an interactive process and grant the request if it is reasonable
An emotional support animal is a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act, and landlords must evaluate such requests individually.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'redlining'?
- Refusing to provide financial services to residents of certain neighborhoods based on race (Correct answer)
- Drawing property lines to exclude minority families from developments
- Requiring higher rents in minority-majority zip codes
- Limiting advertising of vacancies to certain racial groups
Correct answer: Refusing to provide financial services to residents of certain neighborhoods based on race
Redlining is the discriminatory practice of refusing loans, insurance, or services to residents of areas deemed 'risky' due to their racial or ethnic composition.
Question 5: A complainant has how long after an alleged fair housing violation to file a complaint with HUD?
- 6 months
- 1 year (Correct answer)
- 2 years
- 3 years
Correct answer: 1 year
A fair housing complaint must be filed with HUD within one year of the alleged discriminatory act.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT a protected class under the federal Fair Housing Act?
- National origin
- Source of income (Correct answer)
- Religion
- Sex
Correct answer: Source of income
Source of income (e.g., housing vouchers) is not a federally protected class, though many states and localities have added this protection.
Question 7: A property manager posts a rental listing specifying 'No Section 8.' In a jurisdiction that protects source of income, this advertisement is:
- Permissible because Section 8 is a federal program
- Permissible if the owner is exempt under the federal Fair Housing Act
- Potentially illegal under state or local fair housing laws (Correct answer)
- Legal as long as the manager evaluates each applicant individually
Correct answer: Potentially illegal under state or local fair housing laws
Where state or local law protects source of income, openly refusing Section 8 voucher holders in advertising constitutes unlawful discrimination.
CRM Fair Housing Laws 3
Which of the following is an example of 'steering' under fair housing law?