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Practice Of Real EstateFair_housingHARD

A licensed Arkansas salesperson working in a rural area near Pine Bluff is asked by a seller to screen buyers based on their religious background, specifically to avoid selling to members of a particular faith. The salesperson complies and declines to show the property to two qualified buyers who belong to that faith. The salesperson later argues that because the seller gave written instructions, she bears no personal liability under the Arkansas Fair Housing Act. Which of the following best evaluates this argument?

Correct Answer

B) The argument is invalid because the Arkansas Fair Housing Act imposes independent obligations on licensees, and following discriminatory seller instructions does not shield the agent from liability

Under the Arkansas Fair Housing Act (Ark. Code Ann. § 16-123-201 et seq.) and AREC rules, a licensed real estate agent has independent fair housing obligations and cannot shield herself from liability by following discriminatory seller instructions. Religion is one of the seven protected classes under the Arkansas Fair Housing Act, and the salesperson's active participation in the discrimination — declining to show the property to qualified buyers based on religion — makes her personally liable. Written instructions from the seller do not constitute a legal defense.

Answer Options
A
The argument is valid because written seller instructions create a legal defense for licensees under the Arkansas Fair Housing Act
B
The argument is invalid because the Arkansas Fair Housing Act imposes independent obligations on licensees, and following discriminatory seller instructions does not shield the agent from liability
C
The argument is valid because the Arkansas Fair Housing Act only applies to sellers, not to agents acting on seller instructions
D
The argument is invalid only if the salesperson knew the seller's intent was discriminatory, which must be proven separately

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

fair_housingreligionagent_liabilityseller_instructionsarkansas_specificAREC_discipline

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