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Agency Relationships DisclosuresBuyer_agent_dutiesHARD

A buyer's agent is preparing her client for a co-op board interview. During the interview, a board member asks the buyer about his religious practices. What is the agent's obligation regarding this type of question?

Correct Answer

A) Advise the client that questions about religion are prohibited under fair housing law and that he may decline to answer

Under the federal Fair Housing Act and the New York State Human Rights Law (Executive Law § 296), religion is a protected characteristic, and it is unlawful to discriminate in the sale or rental of housing on that basis. A buyer's agent has a fiduciary duty to prepare her client for foreseeable risks, which includes informing him that questions about religion during a co-op board interview are prohibited. The agent should advise the client that he has the right to decline to answer such questions and to redirect the conversation to permissible topics such as financial qualifications and building rules.

Answer Options
A
Advise the client that questions about religion are prohibited under fair housing law and that he may decline to answer
B
Advise the client to answer the question fully, since co-op boards have broad discretion to evaluate applicants on any basis
C
Contact the board after the interview to report the question, but instruct the client to answer it during the interview to avoid jeopardizing approval
D
Take no action, because fair housing protections do not apply to private co-op board interview processes

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

coop_board_interviewreligious_discriminationprotected_characteristicsfair_housing
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