Is it permissible to refuse a Section 8 voucher holder?

• A. Yes; landlords may refuse Section 8 at their discretion.
• B. The FHA does not address voucher holders.
• C. No; refusing to rent to someone solely because they use a housing voucher violates the FHA.
• D. Only co-ops are affected by voucher refusals.

Answer: (C)

The test is about preventing housing discrimination based on the recipient's use of housing assistance. A Section 8 voucher is a form of federal housing assistance, and denying a rental to someone just because they have a voucher treats the person differently solely due to that assistance. The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to refuse to rent to someone on the basis of receiving government housing aid, so landlords must evaluate applicants based on non-discriminatory criteria (income stability, credit, rental history, etc.) rather than the fact that they participate in Section 8. If a landlord participates in the Section 8 program, they are required to treat voucher holders the same as other applicants; choosing not to participate in Section 8 is a business decision, not a license to discriminate. The other options fail because the FHA does address voucher holders and because discrimination based on voucher status is not limited to a specific type of housing like co-ops.