QUIZ: Test your Fair Housing knowledge
Think you're pretty well versed in federal fair housing law? Answer these 12 questions, then calculate your score to see whether you're ready to tout your fair housing know-how to your clients and customers. (Answers below)
1. Under federal fair housing laws, it is legal to prohibit which of the following in a housing unit?
a. Smoking.
b. A live-in caregiver for a resident with a disability.
c. Drinking alcohol.
d. Both a and c.
2. Which of the following are violations or potential violations of the Fair Housing Act?
a. A seller tells you he doesn't want to sell to African-Americans.
b. A sales associate puts the phrase "adults only" in an MLS listing.
c. Both a and b.
d. None of the above.
3. Under the federal fair housing law, the seven protected classes include
a. Race, color, source of income, handicap, national origin, martial status, religion.
b. Race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin.
c. Race, sexual orientation, sex, familial status, handicap, age, national origin.
d. None of the above.
4. The fair housing laws prohibit all of the following, except
a. Refusal to show, sell, or rent a property because of disability.
b. Expressing a preference for young adults in a listing comment.
c. Evicting a current user of illegal drugs.
d. Marketing your listings exclusively in a religious publication.
5. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 does which of the following?
a. Grants all citizens the same rights as white citizens to own, purchase, lease, transfer or use real property.
b. Allows exemptions only for homes sold without the assistance of a real estate practitioner.
c. Effectively prohibits all discrimination in real estate based on race.
d. Both a and c.
6. Based on federal fair hosing law, which of the following people would be protected:
a. A divorced female, single parent.
b. A 35-year-old single Jewish man.
c. A 50-year-old white man.
d. All of the above.
7. The Equal Professional Service Model involves all of the following key guidelines except
a. Have I offered a variety of choices?
b. Is my client working with another agent?
c. Has my customer set the limits?
d. Do I have objective information?
8. When a prospect inquires about the racial makeup pf neighborhoods or schools, you should respond by saying:
a. "I believe the neighborhood has a few Hispanic families. I can check and get back to you."
b. "I recommend you contact the school district, municipal government, or the local library."
c. I wouldn't worry about that. The neighborhood is safe and the schools are good."
d. Residents in this neighborhood value diversity. You'll fit right in."
9. If a seller using a real estate agent refuses an offer because of the buyer's national origin, who may file a federal lawsuit against the seller?
a. The prospective buyer.
b. The real estate practitioner.
c. The federal government.
d. All of the above.
10. Looking at the following four marketing examples, identify which one is OK under Article 10 of the Code of Ethics.
a. Advertise only in a strategically limited geographic area that is populated by a particular ethnic group of people.
b. Limit advertising to small papers which caters to particular religious groups of people.
c. Promote a listing only in selected sales offices in communities with similar ethnic populations.
d. Advertising your knowledge of a language other than English in an English-language advertisement.
11. In an advertisement for a small, two-bedroom house in a neighborhood where many families live, which of the following language is clearly improper under the Fair Housing Act?
a. Small, cozy home in quite neighborhood.
b. Two-bedroom home near playground and senior center.
c. Ideal for couple or single professional.
d. No children.
12. Which of the following features are required in ground floor units of non-elevator multi-family buildings of four units or more built after March 1991?
a. An accessible building entrance on an accessible route for persons in wheelchairs.
b. Accessible and usable public and common use areas.
c. Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostat and other environmental controls in accessible locations.
d. All of the above.
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ANSWERS
1. Under federal fair housing laws, it is legal to prohibit which of the following in a housing unit?
d. Both a and c. Tenants' activities such as smoking and drinking are not protected.
2. Which of the following are violations or potential violations of the Fair Housing Act?
c. Both a and b. Excluding prospective buyers on the basis of race is always a violation. Although it's potentially a violation to discriminate on the basis of familial status, "adults only" is acceptable when the housing is specifically designated for older persons pursuant to a state, local or federal program designed to accommodate the needs of elderly persons. Or the community must be occupied by persons who are 62 or older, or house at least one person who is 55 or older in at least 80 percent of the occupied units and adhere to a policy that demonstrates an intent to house persons who are 55 or older.
3. Under the federal fair housing law, the seven protected classes include
b. Race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin. Although some interest groups have tried to lobby to include sexual orientation and marital status, these aren't protected classes under the federal law, but are sometimes protected by certain state fair housing laws.
4. The fair housing laws prohibit all of the following, except
c. Evicting a current user of illegal drugs. Drug addiction isn't covered under any of the protected classes. In fact, the Fair Housing Act specifically states that current illegal drug users aren't handicapped.
5. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 does which of the following?
d. Both a and c.
6. Based on federal fair housing law, which of the following people would be protected:
d. All of the above. The 50-year-old white man is protected if he's discriminated against on the basis of his race. However, his age isn't relevant since age isn't a protected class under federal fair housing laws.
7. The Equal Professional Service Model involves all of the following key guidelines except
b. Is my client working with another agent?
8. When a prospect inquires about the racial makeup pf neighborhoods or schools, you should respond by saying:
b. "I recommend you contact the school district, municipal government, or the local library." Truthful, unbiased answers to an unsolicited question aren't considered a violation of fair housing law, but it's still good business to send prospects elsewhere for an answer to such questions.
9. If a seller using a real estate agent refuses an offer because of the buyer's national origin, who may file a federal lawsuit against the seller?
d. All of the above.
10. Looking at the following four marketing examples, identify which one is OK under Article 10 of the Code of Ethics.
d. Advertising your knowledge of a language other than English in an English-language advertisement.
11. In an advertisement for a small, two-bedroom house in a neighborhood where many families live, which of the following language is clearly improper under the Fair Housing Act?
d. No children. In addition, c could be improper if there were no other language indicating that families with children were welcome. In general, it's best to describe property with nearby amenities - not the potential buyer - when advertising.
12. Which of the following features are required in ground floor units of non-elevator multi-family buildings of four units or more built after March 1991?
d. All of the above. There are a total of seven requirements; the other four are 1) doors designed to be usable by persons in wheelchairs, 2) an accessible route into and through the dwelling unit, 3) reinforcements in bathroom walls for later installation of grab bars, and 4) kitchen and bathroom space organized so an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.
For more information on federal fair housing rules, log onto the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website at www.hud.gov and follow the links for fair housing.
Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.
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