June 2019 Coach's Quiz

In this lesson, we’ve reviewed recent developments in three hot-button fair housing issues that may affect your community. 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

A prospect says she’s interested in a unit, but that the rent is higher than she expected. The leasing agent says he’s sure they can work out some arrangement if she’d go out with him. The leasing agent says he’d be doing her a favor by reducing the rent, so it’s not sexual harassment. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #2

A resident reports that his upstairs neighbor has been harassing him because of his race. If you ignore his complaint, your community could be sued for harassment under fair housing law. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #3

You could face a fair housing complaint if you conduct criminal background checks for black or Hispanic applicants but skip them for white applicants. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

COACH’S ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS

QUESTION #1

Correct answer: b

The prospect could sue the community for quid pro quo sexual harassment, which occurs when housing benefits are explicitly or implicitly conditioned on sexual favors. It doesn’t matter whether the leasing agent offers her a favor—or threatens her with adverse action—he’s putting the community at risk of a sexual harassment complaint by suggesting or implying that not accepting a date could affect the terms of a rental.

QUESTION #2

Correct answer: a

Your community could be sued for ignoring complaints about tenant-on-tenant harassment based on race or any other protected characteristic. According to HUD regulations, you may be held liable under fair housing law for failing to take prompt action to correct and end a discriminatory housing practice by a third party, where you knew or should have known of the discriminatory conduct and had the power to correct it. The power to take prompt action to correct and end a discriminatory housing practice by a third party depends upon the extent of your control or any other legal responsibility you may have with respect to the third party’s conduct.

QUESTION #3

Correct answer: a

Whatever your policy on criminal background checks, be sure that you apply it consistently—without regard to race, color, national origin, or other protected characteristics. Applying it only to applicants who are members of racial or ethnic minorities, but not to white applicants, could trigger a fair housing complaint.