September 2014 Coach's Quiz

We’ve suggested six rules for complying with fair housing law when renting to students. Now let’s look at how the rules might apply in the real world. Take the COACH’s Quiz to see what you’ve 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

You could get into fair housing trouble if you refuse to rent to students. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #2

If you’re involved in roommate matching, you could face a fair housing complaint if you honor student preferences not to room with members of particular racial, religious, or ethnic groups. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

QUESTION #3

Although you can have a policy banning pets, you must consider the request of a student who says she’s disabled and needs her cat as an emotional support animal. True or false?

a.   True.

b.   False.

COACH’S ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS

QUESTION #1

Correct answer: a

Reason: Rule #1 applies here:

  Rule #1: Consider Fair Housing Concerns Involved in Excluding Students

The FHA doesn’t cover student status, but there are circumstances where such a policy to exclude students could lead to a fair housing complaint. And in some jurisdictions, it’s unlawful to discriminate based on student status. Such a policy could also lead to fair housing trouble under state or local laws banning discrimination based on age, since a policy against renting to students could have a disproportionate effect on younger people.

QUESTION #2

Correct answer: a

Reason: Rule #4 applies here:

   Rule #4: Consider Fair Housing in Roommate Matching

If your community is involved in roommate matching, then you must ensure that rooming assignments are not based on race, color, religion, national origin, familial status, or disability (or any state or local protection as well)—although preferences based on gender are generally allowed in units with shared kitchens or bathrooms. If a prospective or current student resident says he doesn’t want to live with or near someone of a particular race or any other protected class, then make it clear that you won’t honor the request.

QUESTION #3

Correct answer: a

Reason: Rule #5 applies here:

   Rule #5: Consider Requests for Assistance Animals

It’s common to have policies that prohibit or restrict pet ownership—but assistance animals are not pets, so you must consider making an exception to your pet policy as a reasonable accommodation to allow a student with a disability to keep an assistance animal, including animals that provide emotional support.