INSIDER’s Pop Quiz!

Q: A site owner or manager can violate the Fair Housing Act only if he intentionally discriminates against an applicant or resident. True or false?

A: False. A site owner may have a policy or practice that has a discriminatory effect on a protected class, despite having no intent to discriminate. And according to HUD, the Fair Housing Act prohibits seemingly neutral housing policies or practices that have an unjustified discriminatory effect based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.

To learn more about how to comply with HUD’s “discriminatory effects standard,” see our April feature, available to subscribers here.