INSIDER's Pop Quiz!

Q: When a prospect in a wheelchair asks about available two-bedroom units, you may recommend accessible or ground-floor units because you can see that he is obviously disabled. True or false?

A: False. Under the Fair Housing Act, it’s unlawful to make housing unavailable or restrict a prospect’s housing choices because of a disability. Even if you don’t mean to discriminate, you could be accused of unlawful steering by offering your personal opinion, based on the prospect’s disability, about where the prospect should live.

For more about avoiding legal trouble when renting to people who use mobility devices, see “How to Avoid Fair Housing Problems When Applicants and Residents Use Wheelchairs,” available to subscribers here.