24. 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 an example of a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.
The property manager's directive to place applicants with physical disabilities in certain apartments only constitutes a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability, among other protected classes.
A) an owner looking out for the needs of the tenants.
While the owner may believe they are accommodating the tenants’ needs, this approach is discriminatory. The Fair Housing Act mandates that all individuals, regardless of disability, should have equal access to housing options without being segregated based on their physical condition.
B) a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 primarily addresses racial discrimination in housing and does not specifically include provisions related to disability. Therefore, while the situation may relate to discrimination, it is not accurately categorized under this Act as it pertains specifically to disability issues.
C) a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.
This option correctly identifies the federal Fair Housing Act as the applicable law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The directive to segregate applicants based on physical disabilities directly contravenes this Act, making it the appropriate choice.
D) a violation only if the owner does not disclose the leasing policy to tenants.
This statement is misleading as the violation exists regardless of disclosure. The act of screening and placing tenants based on disabilities alone constitutes discrimination under the Fair Housing Act, making any disclosure irrelevant to the underlying violation.
Conclusion
The correct answer is C, as the federal Fair Housing Act protects individuals from discrimination based on disability, and the owner's actions clearly violate this principle. Options A, B, and D fail to accurately address the discriminatory nature of the owner's request, while only option C correctly identifies the legal implications involved. Consequently, C is the definitive choice in this context.