April 2010 Coach's Quiz

We have given you six rules to ensure compliance with fair housing law. Now let's look at how the rules might apply in the real world. Take the COACH's Quiz to see what you have learned.

INSTRUCTIONS: Each of the following questions has only one correct answer. On a separate piece of paper, write down the number of each question, followed by the answer you think is correct—for example, 1)b, 2)a, and so on. The correct answers (with explanations) follow the quiz. Good luck!

QUESTION #1

Choose all that apply: Federal fair housing law bans housing discrimination based on:

1. Sex.

2. Sexual orientation.

3. Familial status.

4. Marital status.

5. Religion.

6. Disability.

7. Age.

8. Color.

9. Source of income.

10. National origin.

11. Race.

QUESTION #2

For reliable information about fair housing laws affecting your community, you could turn to:

1. The Internet.

2. Your attorney.

3. Your state or local apartment association.

4. The government agency or commission that enforces civil rights laws in your state or local area.

5. All of the above.

QUESTION #3

All but one of the following statements are false. Which one is true?

1. Because of safety concerns about falls from balconies, you can restrict families with children to ground-floor units without violating fair housing law.

2. You can require a pet deposit for all residents who have dogs.

3. A community could be sued for sexual harassment by an outside contractor, even if you didn't know anything about it.

4. You can't ask about an applicant's religion, but you can ask whether she believes in God.

Coach's Answers & Explanations

QUESTION #1

Correct answers: a, c, e, f, h, j, k

Reason: Rule #1 applies here:

Rule #1: Establish a Written Fair Housing Policy

Federal law currently lists seven protected characteristics—race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability—but some state, county, and municipal governments also ban discrimination based on some or all of the other characteristics listed.

QUESTION #2

Correct answer: e

Reason: Rule #4 applies here:

Rule #4: Designate a Fair Housing Coordinator

You can find information about fair housing law through all resources, but they vary in reliability and ease of access. Having a fair housing coordinator, who has been well trained in fair housing law, ensures that you have an in-house expert who knows where to look for reliable sources of information and guidance on tough fair housing questions.

QUESTION #3

Correct answer: c

Reason: Rules #1, #2, and #3 apply here:

Rule #1: Establish a Written Fair Housing Policy

Rule #2: Maintain Written Policies and Procedures

Rule #3: Provide Training to Employees

Depending on the circumstances, a community could be sued by a resident who was sexual harassed by an outside contractor even if the community didn't know—but it should have known—about the misconduct but didn't do anything to stop it. For example, if other residents reported sexual harassment by the contractor, the woman could argue that your community was on notice that the contractor was engaged in misconduct—even if the woman herself never reported it before filing suit.

Wrong answers explained:

1. You must find another way to allay safety concerns about falls from balconies because your community could be accused of unlawful steering if you limit the housing choices of families with children by restricting them to ground-floor units.

2. Service animals are not considered pets under fair housing law, so you cannot require a pet fee from any applicant or resident who has a disability-related need for a service dog.

3. Any questions concerning religious affiliations or beliefs could trigger a religious discrimination claim.