July 2015 Coach's Quiz

We have given you four rules on ensuring compliance with local fair housing laws. 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

Your community has adopted policies and procedures to comply with federal fair housing law by prohibiting discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, sex, familial status, disability, or religion. As long as you apply those policies fairly and consistently, you’ve done all you can to avoid fair housing trouble. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #2

At a local apartment association meeting, the manager of a community in a neighboring city tells you about a new law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. You should implement the new rule immediately—with laws changing all the time, it’s important to take action quickly to avoid any risk of a discrimination complaint. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #3

Your community is located in a city that bans discrimination based on lawful source of income. A prospect tells your leasing agent that she relies on retirement benefits for her rent, but it’s not enough to meet your community’s income requirements. To avoid violating local fair housing law, your leasing agent must accept her application. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

COACH’S ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS

QUESTION #1

Correct answer: b

Reason: Rule #1 applies here:

Rule #1: Get to Know Local Fair Housing Laws

Ensuring compliance with federal fair housing laws is a great first step to protecting your community from fair housing trouble, but you must also comply with any applicable state and local fair housing laws.

QUESTION #2

Correct answer: b

Reason: Rules #2 & 4 apply here:

Rule #2: Do Your Own Homework

Rule #4: Keep Track of Changes to State and Local Fair Housing Laws

It’s great that your colleague shared this information, but you should check it out for yourself before making major changes to your fair housing policies and procedures. Depending on where you’re located, there may be different fair housing rules under local law—even if you’re in the same state or county. Confirm whether there has been a change to applicable local laws and, if so, who is covered and when it takes effect, before making any necessary changes to your policies and procedures.

QUESTION #3

Correct answer: b

Reason: Rules #1 & #3 apply here:

Rule #1: Get to Know Local Fair Housing Laws

Rule #3: Ensure that Policies and Training Cover Local Requirements

If your city or state bans discrimination based on source of income, it’s important to find out exactly what’s covered. Generally speaking, these laws bar communities from rejecting a prospect solely because of the source of income, but they don’t require you to accept a prospect who receives her financial support from retirement benefits if you have other nondiscriminatory reasons to reject her, such as an insufficient income. Develop the necessary policies and procedures—and cover it in your training, so everyone understands the implications of the law and how to apply it consistently.