Texas Fair Housing
Practice Questions & Answers (2026)

Explanation

Discriminating based on national origin violates the federal Fair Housing Act. In Texas, the Texas Fair Housing Act provides similar protections. Licensees must treat all clients equally regardless of protected class. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on seven protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. Texas follows the seven federal protected classes without adding state-specific categories. The Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD) enforces both federal and state protections under the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301). Texas mirrors the seven federal protected classes without adding state-specific categories. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 separately prohibits racial discrimination in all property transactions with no exceptions.

Explanation

Advertising that indicates a preference for or against any protected class is a Fair Housing violation, even if it appears positive. Stating that a property is 'perfect for a family with children' implies that other household types (singles, couples without children, seniors) are not welcome. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on seven protected classes: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability. Texas follows the seven federal protected classes without adding state-specific categories. The Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD) enforces both federal and state protections under the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301). Texas mirrors the seven federal protected classes without adding state-specific categories. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 separately prohibits racial discrimination in all property transactions with no exceptions.

Explanation

While landlords must allow reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications, tenants—not landlords—pay for physical modifications to the unit. Landlords pay for reasonable accommodations to policies or services, not structural modifications. Under the Fair Housing Act, housing providers must grant reasonable accommodations necessary for a disabled person to have equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, provided the accommodation does not impose an undue burden. In Texas, the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD) enforces accommodation requirements under the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301). Common examples include allowing service or emotional support animals in no-pet buildings and assigning accessible parking. Accommodations are changes to rules or policies, while modifications are physical changes to the unit.

Explanation

Under the federal Fair Housing Act, a complaint must be filed with HUD within one year of the discriminatory act. Similarly, Texas Fair Housing complaints have a one-year statute of limitations. A fair housing complaint must be filed with HUD within one year of the alleged discriminatory act, or a private civil lawsuit within two years. In Texas, complaints may also be filed with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD) under the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301). HUD investigates at no cost to the complainant and may pursue administrative charges or refer the matter to the Department of Justice. Remedies include injunctive relief, actual damages, and civil penalties.

Explanation

The federal Fair Housing Act protects race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and familial status. Sexual orientation is not a federally protected class under FHA, though many states and localities have added it. Familial status, added by the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act, protects families with children under 18, pregnant women, and anyone securing legal custody of a minor. Housing providers cannot refuse to rent, impose different terms, or restrict facility access based on the presence of children. The primary exemption is qualified 55+ or 62+ senior housing meeting specific federal requirements. In Texas, familial status protections are enforced by the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD) under the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301).

Explanation

Familial status is a protected class under the Fair Housing Act. Refusing to rent to families with children under 18 (except in qualifying senior housing) is illegal discrimination. Familial status, added by the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act, protects families with children under 18, pregnant women, and anyone securing legal custody of a minor. Housing providers cannot refuse to rent, impose different terms, or restrict facility access based on the presence of children. The primary exemption is qualified 55+ or 62+ senior housing meeting specific federal requirements. In Texas, familial status protections are enforced by the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD) under the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301).

Explanation

Blockbusting (also called panic peddling) is the illegal practice of inducing property owners to sell by suggesting that persons of a protected class are moving into the area and that values will decline. Blockbusting violates Section 804(e) of the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits inducing sales by representing that protected-class members are moving into the area. In Texas, this is enforceable under the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301) through the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD). Blockbusting differs from steering in that blockbusting targets current owners to sell, while steering directs prospective buyers toward or away from neighborhoods.

Explanation

The Fair Housing Act requires that multifamily housing built after March 13, 1991, with four or more units must include accessible and adaptable design features such as accessible routes, wider doors, and accessible kitchens and baths. In Texas, fair housing protections are enforced by the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD) under the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301). Texas follows the seven federal protected classes without adding state-specific categories.

Explanation

Steering is the illegal practice of directing buyers toward or away from specific neighborhoods based on their race, religion, national origin, or other protected class, limiting their housing choices. Under the federal Fair Housing Act, steering violates Section 804 by limiting housing choices based on protected-class characteristics. In Texas, the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD) enforces anti-steering provisions under the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301). Texas follows the seven federal protected classes without adding state-specific categories. Steering is distinguished from redlining, which involves lenders rather than agents denying services to geographic areas.

Explanation

The Fair Housing Act requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including modifying no-pet policies to allow assistance animals. Assistance animals are not pets under fair housing law. Under the Fair Housing Act, housing providers must grant reasonable accommodations necessary for a disabled person to have equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling, provided the accommodation does not impose an undue burden. In Texas, the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division (TWC-CRD) enforces accommodation requirements under the Texas Fair Housing Act (Property Code Chapter 301). Common examples include allowing service or emotional support animals in no-pet buildings and assigning accessible parking. Accommodations are changes to rules or policies, while modifications are physical changes to the unit.