Chapter 17: Fair Housing Flashcards
The refusal of a lending institution to make a residential real estate loan strictly because of the racial or ethnic composition of the neighborhood is called:
A. blockbusting
B. redlining
C. steering
D. panic peddling
B. redlining
(Redlining is a fair housing violation typically committed by mortgage brokers or lenders. It involves changing loan terms or downpayment amounts based on geographical boundaries that are tied to racial or ethnic makeup of a neighborhood)
The practice of renting only first floor apartments to families with toddlers rather than allowing the families to rent apartments with balconies that are located within the upper floors of the building is considered:
A. the responsibility of the property manager in order to minimize the liability of the owner
B. an illegal practice that constitutes blockbusting
C. redlining
D. a discriminatory practice
D. a discriminatory practice
(This would be considered a discriminatory practice because of the protected class of familial status which prohibits different treatment for parents of custodial children under the age of 18)
A house for sale was advertised: “Fine executive home in an upscale neighborhood within walking distance of city park and St. Mary’s College.” All of the following are true, EXCEPT:
A. This is descriptive of the property for sale and a good ad.
B. An upscale neighborhood could be interpreted to mean that minorities are not welcome.
C. It appears that wheelchair-bound buyers are not welcome.
D. The neighborhood could appear to be undesirable for people who do not follow the same religion as founders of St. Mary’s College.
A. This is descriptive of the property for sale and a good ad.
(There are several fair housing issues with this advertisement all of which are indicated in the other answers)
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that:
A. all real estate is free of barriers to people with disabilities
B. all employers adopt nondiscriminatory employment practices
C. reasonable accommodations be provided to people with disabilities
D. the existing premises must be remodeled regardless of the cost involved
C. reasonable accommodations be provided to people with disabilities
(ADA or the Americans with Disabilities Act applies only to commercial or public facilities and requires that reasonable accommodations be made including items like the installation of ramps, handicapped restrooms and handicapped parking spaces)
Which of the following would be considered legal:
A. charging a family with children a higher security deposit than is charged to adults
B. refusing to rent to a person with disability because they have a poor credit history and are unable to demonstrate sufficient income to pay the rent
C. picturing only white people in a brochure as the happy residents in a housing subdivision
D. refusing to sell a house to a person who has a history of alcoholism
B. refusing to rent to a person with disability because they have a poor credit history and are unable to demonstrate sufficient income to pay the rent
(Poor credit and insufficient income is never a protected class under fair housing)
The unlawful practice of channeling prospective buyers from or to a particular area is known as:
A. blockbusting
B. steering
C. panic peddling
D. harassment
B. steering
(Steering is usually a violation that occurs with buyers when they are directed to or away from certain areas on the basis of racial or ethnic makeup)
An owner wishes to list an expensive home, but has requested that the home be sold to Caucasians only. Under the law, the agent should:
A. inform the seller he cannot legally accept the listing under those conditions
B. explain that it would be unlikely that non-Caucasians would be able to afford the house
C. advise the owner to sell it themselves
D. advertise the home solely in newspapers read by Caucasians
A. inform the seller he cannot legally accept the listing under those conditions
(A licensee is required to follow a client’s instructions unless they violate the law. When a licensee receives an illegal instruction they should refuse the instruction and if necessary terminate the relationship)
Under what circumstances may a broker legally NOT show a minority a home in a white neighborhood?
A. never
B. when the minority has given up their rights under the 1866 Civil Rights Act
C. if the owner is out of town and has instructed the broker not to show the home to anyone while the owner is away
D. when the agent sincerely believes that if the home were shown, there would be violence
C. if the owner is out of town and has instructed the broker not to show the home to anyone while the owner is away
(If the owner has given an instruction that is equally applied to everyone then there is no discriminatory treatment on the basis of protected classes)
Under the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, a handicapped person can be an individual:
A. in a low-income family
B. who can’t qualify for a federally guaranteed or insured loan
C. who has abused controlled substances over a long time
D. with a mental impairment that substantially limits that person from living a normal life
D. with a mental impairment that substantially limits that person from living a normal life
(The definition of handicapped under federal law is “any physical or mental impairment which substantially limits a person’s activities.”)
“Familial status,” as it is defined in the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, prohibits housing discrimination against:
A. parents or a legal guardian with dependent children
B. families or parents with custodial children under the age of 18
C. a household unit where at least one member is over the age of 55
D. children living with their grandparents
B. families or parents with custodial children under the age of 18
(Familial status protects all families or parents with custodial children under the age of 18)
The federal Fair Housing Act protects:
A. students
B. married women
C. migrant workers
D. elderly people
B. married women
(Married women are protected. Not because they are married. Marital status is not a protected class. It is the inclusion of the word “women” which is the protected class of sex (gender))
A young woman with a “visual impairment” wants to live in an apartment building with her seeing eye dog. The building has a policy that requires the landlord to collect a “pet deposit” for any tenant regardless of their protected class. The woman refuses to pay the deposit. Which of the following is correct?
A. Because the deposit is charged equally and fairly to all tenants, the landlord can require the deposit.
B. The landlord should not charge the deposit to the visually impaired woman, but can increase the amount of her security deposit for damage that the dog might cause.
C. The landlord may not charge her the deposit because the animal is not a “pet”.
D. The landlord must rent her the unit, but can require that the dog be kept outside of the unit.
C. The landlord may not charge her the deposit because the animal is not a “pet”.
(Whether dealing with service animals under ADA or assistive animals under the Fair Housing Act, they are not considered pets and deposits cannot be charged and housing or access cannot be declined due to the existence of the animal)
A tenant with a handicap asks her landlord for permission to modify her dwelling unit. The landlord can:
A. charge a larger than customary security deposit so money will be available to restore the unit to its original condition when the tenant moves out
B. require the tenant to restore the interior to the original condition at the end of the tenancy
C. require the tenant to move out if she isn’t comfortable
D. deny the request for no reason
B. require the tenant to restore the interior to the original condition at the end of the tenancy
(Landlords must allow tenants with disabilities to make reasonable modifications. The tenant is responsible for paying for the modifications and can be required to restore them at the end of the tenancy)
The federal Fair Housing Act created exemptions where federal fair housing law is not applicable. These exemptions never apply to:
A. familial status
B. handicapped and accessibility issues
C. race or color
D. religion
C. race or color
(The exemptions in the Fair Housing Act never apply to race or color because that type of discrimination has been illegal since the 1866 Civil Rights Act)
How long does an individual have to file a complaint with HUD in regard to a fair housing violation?
A. 30 days
B. 60 days
C. 1 year
D. 2 years
C. 1 year
(The time limit for an individual to file a fair housing complain is one year)
