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Practice Of Real EstateFair_housingHARD

A Washington real estate agent represents a seller whose home is listed at $450,000. A buyer with a disability requests that the seller make structural modifications to the property as a condition of the offer. The seller refuses, stating he is not required to make any changes. Which of the following best describes the legal situation under the federal Fair Housing Act?

Correct Answer

A) The seller may refuse, because the Fair Housing Act's reasonable modification requirement applies to landlords in rental housing, not to sellers in a sale transaction

Under the federal Fair Housing Act, the 'reasonable modification' requirement applies to rental housing, not to the sale of property. In a rental context, landlords must allow tenants with disabilities to make reasonable modifications to the unit at the tenant's expense (with restoration requirements in some cases). In a sale transaction, the seller is not legally required to make structural modifications to accommodate a buyer's disability. The buyer may negotiate for modifications as part of the purchase agreement, but the seller is not mandated to agree. This is a critical distinction between the rental and sale contexts under federal fair housing law.

Answer Options
A
The seller may refuse, because the Fair Housing Act's reasonable modification requirement applies to landlords in rental housing, not to sellers in a sale transaction
B
The seller must make the modifications but may require the buyer to pay for them and restore the property to its original condition after moving out
C
The seller is exempt from any modification requirements because the property is a single-family home
D
The seller is required to make reasonable structural modifications at his own expense because disability is a federally protected class

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

disability_discriminationreasonable_modificationsale_vs_rentalfederal_fair_housing

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