17. An owner of a 20-unit, 4-floor apartment complex wanted the property manager to screen all applicants carefully and place those who had any physical disabilities in certain apartments only. This would be an example of
Answer: C
This would be a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.
Placing applicants with physical disabilities in specific apartments solely based on their disability status is discriminatory and constitutes a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits such practices.
A) an owner looking out for the needs of the tenants
While the owner may believe they are considering the needs of tenants, segregating individuals with disabilities into specific apartments based solely on their disability is not an appropriate or lawful way to address those needs. This action does not reflect a genuine effort to accommodate but rather enforces discrimination.
B) a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 primarily addresses discrimination based on race and does not explicitly cover discrimination based on disability. Therefore, this option is not applicable to the scenario described, as it specifically concerns the Fair Housing Act's provisions for individuals with disabilities.
C) a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act
This option correctly identifies the discriminatory practice illustrated in the scenario. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination based on disability, and placing individuals with disabilities in designated apartments violates this law by treating them differently based on their physical condition.
D) a violation only if the owner does not disclose the leasing policy to tenants
Disclosing the leasing policy does not negate the discriminatory nature of the practice. Even if the owner informs tenants of the policy, it remains a violation of the Fair Housing Act to segregate applicants based on disability status.
Conclusion
The correct answer is C, as it accurately reflects the violation of the federal Fair Housing Act in the scenario presented. All other options fail to recognize the legal implications of discriminatory housing practices, focusing either on incorrect laws or mischaracterizing the owner's intentions. The core concept here is the protection against discrimination in housing, which is clearly breached by the owner's actions.