A: The reason there is confusion is because there is no clear law stating that associations cannot deny a tenant because of credit score.  Associations cannot deny a renter for illegal reasons, such as race, religion, national origin...the typical categories of clear discrimination.  However, a tenant's financial history is proper for a lease application provided the governing documents give the Board of Directors the clear ability to reject a tenant based on a history of financial irresponsibility (bad debts, bankruptcies, foreclosures etc).  The key is clarity in the governing documents and consistency with decisions. BOD's get into troube if they approve someone with a 680 credit score but deny someone with a 650 credit score.  Rather than using credit score, the better approach in my opinion is to look at whether the applicant has multiple blemishes indicating a history of serious financial irresponsibility. These applicants are more likely to be problematic tenants.  If someone has a single short sale and maybe one credit card that runs a balance but is otherwise a clean, law abiding applicant, the association should probably stay clear of the issue.  After all, most people who need to rent in this economy likely have a short sale or bankruptcy and cannot qualify to buy a home.  However, if the applicant has a bankrtupcy and multiple accounts in collections (which a credit report will show), I think it's proper to deny on that basis provided there is clear authority to do so in the documents.