Illinois Leasing Agent Practice Exam 2025 - Free Leasing Agent License Practice Questions and Study Guide

Refusing to rent to an individual with poor credit history is permitted under the Federal Fair Housing Act, as long as the criteria for credit history are applied consistently and do not disproportionately exclude individuals from any particular racial, ethnic, or protected group. The Act primarily prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. Therefore, evaluating applicants based on their creditworthiness is a legitimate screening process as long as it is done fairly and uniformly across all applicants.

The other choices involve actions that would constitute violations of the Fair Housing Act. Advertising property for rent only to a specific group, like a particular race or religion, is discriminatory. Increasing rent solely because an applicant is a minority is also a clear violation of fair housing laws, as it discriminates against a protected class. Additionally, forewarning an applicant that a unit is rented when it isn't would misrepresent the availability of housing and could mislead potential renters, which is also contrary to the principles of the Fair Housing Act.