Compliance Monitoring & Fair Housing Laws Flashcards

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) as it applies to affordable housing primarily provides which protection?

Answer: Protection from eviction solely due to domestic violence

VAWA prohibits housing providers receiving federal funding from evicting a tenant solely because they are a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

A monitor discovers that a property owner has been claiming tax credits for units that do not meet the minimum habitability standards under HQS. The best course of action is to:

Answer: Document the finding and issue a noncompliance notice to the state agency

The compliance monitor should document findings and issue a noncompliance notice to the state HFA, which will report to the IRS via Form 8823.

Which of the following best describes 'steering' in the context of fair housing?

Answer: Guiding prospective tenants toward or away from certain neighborhoods based on protected characteristics

Steering involves directing prospective tenants to or away from certain units or neighborhoods based on their membership in a protected class.

For a LIHTC property to qualify as a 40/60 set-aside election, what percentage of units must be occupied by households at or below 60% of Area Median Income (AMI)?

Answer: 40%

The 40/60 set-aside requires that at least 40% of units be occupied by households earning no more than 60% of AMI.

An accessible parking space requested by a tenant with a disability as a reasonable modification at a privately owned property is typically paid for by:

Answer: The tenant requesting the modification

Under the Fair Housing Act, at privately owned properties, the cost of reasonable modifications is generally borne by the tenant requesting the modification.

A compliance audit reveals that a LIHTC property's gross rent exceeds the applicable rent limit. What is the likely consequence?

Answer: The affected units are out of compliance and may result in credit recapture

Charging rents above the applicable LIHTC rent limits renders those units noncompliant and can trigger credit recapture by the IRS.

A property manager asks an applicant 'Do you have any mental health conditions?' during the application process. This question is:

Answer: A potential Fair Housing Act violation based on disability discrimination

Inquiring about an applicant's mental health condition during the rental process is a violation of the Fair Housing Act's prohibition on disability-based discrimination.