Shared Housing and Discrimination

[Spencer Fuller]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a tenant to fill a room in a 3b3b condo that I own, but do not live in. I am currently renting out two of the bedrooms and would like to know how the discrimination laws apply to shared housing (roommates) when the landlord does NOT live in one of the rooms. Am I allowed to discriminate based on gender/age/etc. if one or both of the current housemates says he/she cannot/will not live with a particular gender/age/etc.? As a way to side-step this all-together, could I have one or both of the current tenants do a pre-screening of applicants and forward me any applicant that would be acceptable to them? I would then do a standard background/credit check of course. 

Spencer F.