May 2008 Coach's Quiz
We have given you seven rules on how to comply with fair housing law when dealing with families with children. 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.
COACH'S TIP: The correct answers (with explanations) follow the quiz. Good luck!
QUESTION #1
A couple with two young children come to your office. They tell you that they are looking for a two-bedroom unit and ask about the distance to the local elementary school. You tell them about your available units, but you advise them that they would be happier living somewhere closer to the school. Since you have only the family's best interests at heart, you have not violated fair housing law. True or false?
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True.
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False.
QUESTION #2
Your community was built before 1978, and you know that lead-based paint has been controlled in some of your vacant one-bedroom units, but not in others. When a pregnant woman and her husband come into the office to inquire about renting a one-bedroom unit, you should:
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Tell them about only the units in which lead-based paint has been controlled.
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Tell them about all the units, but advise them to stay away from those in which lead-based paint has not been controlled.
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Tell them about all the units, disclosing which ones contain lead-based paint, and ask which ones they want to see.
QUESTION #3
The pregnant woman and her husband in Question #2 decide to rent a unit in which lead-based paint has not been controlled. Before they sign the lease, you comply with federal lead-based paint disclosure law as well as any applicable state or local requirements. Since they are willing to rent the unit with full knowledge of the dangers posed by lead-based paint, you may require them to sign a document to protect you from any liability due to the lead-based paint in the unit. True or false?
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True.
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False.
QUESTION #4
Your community requires that children under the age of 14 have adult supervision to use the pool. You also have a code of conduct that prohibits roughhousing in the pool area, for the safety and enjoyment of everyone using the pool. You have received complaints from some of your older residents about teenagers who run around and push each other in the pool. You should:
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Ban anyone under 18 from using the pool.
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Increase the age for which adult supervision is required to use the pool, from 14 to 18.
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Identify who is causing the problems, so you can address the problems with their families.
Coach's Answers & Explanations
QUESTION #1
Correct answer: b
Reason: Rule #2 applies here:
Rule #2: Do Not Discourage Families with Children from Residing in Your Community
Even though you told them about the units available in your community, fair housing law bars communities from discouraging families with children from living in the community, regardless of your motives.
Wrong answer explained:
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Even if you believe that the family would be happier if they lived closer to the local elementary school, it is a violation of fair housing law to discourage families with children from living in your community.
QUESTION #2
Correct answer: c
Reason: Rule #4 applies here:
Rule #4: Do Not Steer Families with Children into Particular Areas or Units
Fair housing law bars discrimination based on familial status, which includes pregnant women. If a family chooses to live in a unit that has not undergone lead-hazard control treatments, HUD says that your community must disclose the condition of the unit, but may not decline to allow the family to live there.
Wrong answer explained:
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The FHA prohibits “steering,” which includes encouraging prospects to live in a particular part of your community because of their familial status. By telling the couple only about units in which the lead-based paint has been controlled, you have engaged in illegal steering.
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Even if you believe that it's too dangerous for the pregnant woman to live in a unit where lead-based paint hazards have not been controlled, federal fair housing prohibits you from steering the couple away from those units.
QUESTION #3
Correct answer: b
Reason: Rule #5 applies here:
Rule #5: Do Not Impose Special Conditions upon Families with Children
Fair housing law prohibits discrimination “in the terms, conditions, or privileges” of rental units based on familial status. Therefore, you may not impose special obligations on the pregnant woman, even if you are concerned about increased liability risks posed by exposure to lead-based paint.
Wrong answer explained:
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Requiring the couple to sign a liability waiver to protect you from being sued for injuries from lead exposure violates fair housing law.
QUESTION #4
Correct answer: c
Reason: Rules #6 and #7 apply here:
Rule #6: Do Not Establish Rules that Unreasonably Burden Families with Children
Rule #7: Make Sure Child-Targeted Rules Are Reasonable and Necessary
Your community has rules to ensure residents' safety and enjoyment of your community's pool. So long as you require everyone—regardless of age—to comply with your established rules governing use of the pool, your best bet is to address the problem directly with the families involved.
Wrong answer explained:
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Excluding children from using your pool under any circumstances amounts to discrimination “in the terms, conditions, or privileges” of rental units based on familial status.
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Although you may establish rules targeting children's use of your facilities, a rule requiring that all children have adult supervision may trigger a fair housing complaint unless you can show that the rule is reasonable and necessary to protect the children's safety.
See The Lesson For This Quiz
| Renting To Families With Children: Complying With Fair Housing, Lead-Paint Laws |