New multifamily (4+ units, post-1991): accessibility design required
Before you read
Test yourself first: 5 questions
Question 1 of 5
A tenant with a disability asks to install a wheelchair ramp at the tenant's own expense. Under fair housing law, the landlord must:
Answer: B. Fair housing law requires landlords to permit reasonable modifications to accommodate a disability, typically at the tenant's expense, so the tenant can fully use the dwelling.
Question 2 of 5
How many classes are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act?
Answer: C. Seven: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability (handicap).
Question 3 of 5
Allowing a tenant with a disability to keep a service animal despite a 'no pets' policy is a:
Answer: A. Fair housing law requires reasonable accommodations in rules/policies (like waiving a no-pets rule for a service/assistance animal) for people with disabilities.
Question 4 of 5
A tenant with a disability may make reasonable structural modifications to a unit:
Answer: A. Landlords must permit reasonable modifications, generally at the tenant's expense, and may require restoration of interior changes when the tenant leaves.
Question 5 of 5
Which of the following is NOT one of the seven protected classes under the federal Fair Housing Act?
Answer: C. Marital status is not a federally protected class. The seven federal classes are race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability (handicap).
Keep the streak going with more questions like these, each with a full rationale.
Must-know rules
- Reasonable ACCOMMODATION: change rules/policies (allow assistance animal despite no-pet policy) — landlord's cost: none
- Reasonable MODIFICATION: physical change (grab bars) — TENANT pays, may need to restore
- Assistance animals are NOT pets — no pet deposit/fee
- New multifamily (4+ units, post-1991): accessibility design required
- Never ask about the disability itself — only the need connection
Disability — Accommodate & Modify: FAQs
Is Disability — Accommodate & Modify on the real estate exam?
Yes. Fair Housing & Ethics is a scored domain on the real estate licensing exam, and this topic appears in the national portion.
Is this cheat sheet free?
Yes — every page on Cinna RE's resource library is free to read, print and share. The app adds practice questions, mock exams and a readiness score.
