Fair Housing
What is the 'Mrs. Murphy exemption' to the Fair Housing Act?
AAn exemption for elderly widows living alone in their property
BAn exemption allowing owner-occupants of small buildings (1–4 units) to discriminate in selecting tenants if they personally occupy the building and don't use a broker✓ Correct
CAn exemption for religious organizations renting to their own members
DAn exemption for family members transferring property within the immediate family
Explanation
The 'Mrs. Murphy' exemption (42 U.S.C. §3603(b)) allows an owner of a dwelling with four or fewer units to discriminate in selecting tenants if the owner lives in one of the units AND does not use a real estate broker or discriminatory advertising. Named for a hypothetical elderly woman renting a room in her home, this exemption recognizes the intimate nature of sharing a home. However, it does NOT exempt the owner from Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act, which may have stricter requirements.
Related Pennsylvania Fair Housing Questions
- A Pennsylvania landlord is not required to allow a tenant with a disability to make reasonable modifications if:
- The 'Mrs. Murphy' exemption applies to:
- National origin discrimination under the Fair Housing Act protects persons from discrimination based on:
- Pennsylvania's Human Relations Act adds which protected class not covered by federal Fair Housing law?
- Housing for older persons (55+ communities) in Pennsylvania is exempt from the Fair Housing Act's familial status provisions if:
- Pittsburgh passed local fair housing ordinances that provide protections beyond the PHRA. This illustrates that:
- The 'interactive process' in fair housing disability accommodation means:
- A disability-related accommodation request that would fundamentally alter the nature of the housing or impose an undue financial burden is considered:
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