Final answer:
Ethnicity is not a permissible standard to deny a rental applicant; it's prohibited under the Fair Housing Act. Creditworthiness, criminal history, and rental history are permissible reasons provided they are not applied in a discriminatory manner.
Step-by-step explanation:
Landlords are permitted to deny rental applicants based on various standards, provided these standards are clearly and conspicuously stated. However, determining which standards are not permissible is essential to uphold fair housing laws. c) Ethnicity is not a permissible standard on which to deny a rental applicant. This is prohibited under the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability.
Creditworthiness, criminal history, and rental history are all permissible reasons for a landlord to deny a rental application, as these factors directly relate to a potential tenant's ability to abide by the terms of the lease and care for the property. However, care must be taken to ensure that the way these factors are assessed does not indirectly discriminate against particular groups. For example, if criminal history policies are applied in a way that disproportionately affects a certain ethnic group without a justifiable reason, it could be considered discriminatory.
Discrimination in housing can take many forms, and while overt discrimination like 'door slamming' may be on the decline, more covert and subtle forms of discrimination continue to impact minority groups' access to housing, which in turn can affect their opportunities for education, employment, and overall quality of life.