Question 110

The landlord who occupies one-half of a duplex can refuse to rent the other half to an unmarried couple.

Under federal fair housing laws, landlords who occupy one unit of a duplex are allowed to discriminate based on marital status, meaning they can choose not to rent to an unmarried couple.

A) The landlord can evict a tenant for having minority friends.

This statement is incorrect as federal fair housing laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. Evicting a tenant for having minority friends would be a violation of these laws and could result in legal consequences for the landlord.

B) The landlord who occupies one-half of a duplex can refuse to rent the other half to an unmarried couple.

This is correct. Federal fair housing laws provide an exemption for landlords who live in one half of a duplex, allowing them to make rental decisions based on marital status, including the right to refuse to rent to unmarried couples.

C) The landlord can refuse to rent to a financially qualified married couple.

This statement is incorrect. Federal fair housing laws prohibit discrimination based on familial status, which includes married couples. A landlord cannot refuse to rent to a financially qualified married couple solely based on their marital status.

D) The landlord can refuse to rent to pregnant women.

This statement is also incorrect. Federal fair housing laws protect against discrimination based on familial status, which includes pregnant women. A landlord cannot refuse to rent to someone because they are pregnant, as this would be discriminatory.

Conclusion

The correct answer is B because it accurately reflects the exemptions allowed under federal fair housing laws for landlords who occupy part of a rental property. Options A, C, and D fail to recognize the protections against discrimination based on race, marital status, and familial status, respectively, demonstrating a misunderstanding of the law.