Under the Federal Fair Housing Act, which action is permitted?

The action of refusing to rent to an individual with a poor credit history is permitted under the Federal Fair Housing Act because credit history is a legitimate basis for evaluating a tenant's suitability for renting a property. Landlords have the right to screen applicants based on their financial responsibility and ability to pay rent, which includes examining credit reports as part of the application process. This is not considered a discriminatory practice as long as the criteria are applied uniformly to all applicants, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. Thus, using credit history in this context is both lawful and a common practice among landlords to ensure financial stability and reduce the risk of non-payment of rent.

In contrast, the other actions outlined are not permissible under the Fair Housing Act. Advertising property for rent only to a special group would constitute discriminatory advertising. Increasing rent based on an applicant's minority status is an outright violation of fair housing laws. Finally, misrepresenting the availability of a property is deceptive and illegal, regardless of the applicant's background. Each of these actions fails to comply with the objectives of the Fair Housing Act, which aims to prohibit discrimination and promote fair treatment in housing.