Which of the following criteria CANNOT be used to evaluate a prospective tenant's application?

The correct answer identifies medical history as a criterion that cannot be used to evaluate a prospective tenant's application. This is primarily due to privacy concerns and potential discrimination issues associated with an individual's health information. Fair housing laws, which protect tenants from discrimination, prohibit landlords from inquiring about medical history as it is not relevant to an applicant's ability to fulfill lease obligations such as paying rent or maintaining the property.

On the other hand, criminal background checks, credit history, and income verification are commonly utilized by landlords and leasing agents to assess the suitability of a tenant. Each of these factors provides important information about a prospective tenant’s reliability and financial stability. For instance, a credit history can indicate how responsible an applicant has been with financial commitments in the past, while income verification helps ensure that the tenant can afford the rent. Criminal background checks can be necessary for assessing safety and security concerns for the property and neighboring residents.

Collectively, these criteria aim to create a fair and informed decision-making process for tenant selection, while medical history remains off-limits to protect individual privacy and promote equal housing opportunities.