Havens Realty Corp. v. Coleman is notable for allowing housing organizations and testers to sue in cases involving racial steering. What practice does this describe?

• A. Lease terminations based on race
• B. Testers suing over racial steering in housing
• C. Government seizure of private property
• D. Mandatory desegregation orders

Answer: (B)

The principle at work is using testers to uncover housing discrimination and allow private lawsuits under the Fair Housing Act. Havens Realty Corp. v. Coleman is notable because it recognized that testers—people who pose as prospective renters—can sue when a housing provider engages in discriminatory practices, specifically racial steering. In the case, a Black tester was told there were no vacancies and was steered away, illustrating how misrepresentation about availability and directing applicants based on race violate the act. This established that private individuals and housing organizations can bring suit to challenge such discrimination, making testers a legitimate tool in enforcing fair housing rights. So the described practice is testers suing over racial steering in housing. The other options describe activities that aren’t about tester-driven challenges to discrimination.