COACH's Pop Quiz!

Q: It’s illegal to refuse to rent to any minority prospects, but not to bend the truth about available units when they ask about vacancies. True or false?

A: False. Subtle forms of discrimination are just as unlawful as blatantly discriminatory practices. Under the Fair Housing Act, it’s unlawful to provide inaccurate or false information about availability because of a prospect’s race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.

In the February 2020 lesson, Fair Housing Coach highlights 10 essential rules to help you comply with fair housing law. Housing discrimination has been outlawed for more than 50 years, but all too often communities still find themselves on the wrong side of the law and are forced to pay out thousands—and in some cases, millions—in settlements or court awards, civil penalties, and attorney’s fees to get themselves out of fair housing trouble.

The February lesson, “10 Essential Rules for Avoiding Fair Housing Trouble,” is available to subscribers here.