Can a landlord refuse to rent to someone due to their religion under Fair Housing Law?

No, it is illegal under Fair Housing Law for a landlord to discriminate against someone based on their religion in North Carolina. Under the Fair Housing Act, it is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status. This applies to all aspects of renting a property, including the advertising, application process, and tenancy. Therefore, a landlord cannot refuse to rent to someone based on their religion. This extends to a landlord taking steps to dissuade someone from renting, such as charging higher rates for members of certain religious groups or requiring stringent deposits from people of a certain faith. Additionally, a landlord cannot treat tenants who share a certain religious faith more favorably than those who don’t. Landlords should also be aware of the limits of state and local laws, which may supplement the Fair Housing Act. In North Carolina, for example, there is a state fair housing law that prohibits discrimination on additional classes, such as sexual orientation and gender identity. Therefore, landlords must remain aware of the requirements of all applicable laws.

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