Owner Not Liable for Religious Discrimination

Facts: A married Muslim couple who dress in traditional attire sought to rent an apartment at a low-income site. After being denied, the couple sued the owner for religious discrimination under the Fair Housing Act.

The rental application asked for a variety information from applicants, but for purposes of this case, the most relevant is the requirement that an applicant provide rental history from the previous five years. The form asked for the names and addresses of past landlords and the locations of the prior residences.