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- Home
- Fair Housing

Fair housing

Accessible housing for everyone

Whether you live in a city, suburb, or rural community, finding safe, economical housing can be a difficulty.

Fortunately, our laws protect your right to select where to live without discrimination based on race, faith, sex, or a number of other attributes.

Federal and our state laws in New York exist to ensure that equivalent housing chances are readily available to all. Some city governments use even more securities. This assistance explains some of those laws and includes details about what to do if you believe a property owner, seller, or lending institution has actually victimized you.

Housing is one of life's fundamentals; it is necessary that everybody has access to it, devoid of discrimination. If you have any questions or concerns,
please call my office.

Fair housing laws: how we are safeguarded

The federal Fair Housing Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, and various regional laws prohibit discrimination by housing service providers (including owners, property representatives, handling representatives, constructing superintendents, and cooperative and condominium boards), and loan providers (banks and mortgage companies).

- The Federal Fair Housing Act makes it prohibited to discriminate on the basis of an individual's race, familial status (existence of kids under age 18), color, nationwide origin, faith, disability (physical or psychological), or sex.
- The New York City State Human Rights Law covers all the very same attributes, and also safeguards against discrimination based on creed, age, sexual preference, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, or legal source of earnings (public or housing help, Social Security, supplemental security earnings, pension, kid support, alimony, foster care aids, annuities, or joblessness benefits). Many city governments have additional defenses. The New York City City Human Rights Law also covers: gender, citizenship status, partnership status, and lawful occupation.

Most housing is included

In the state of New York, anti-discrimination laws cover most kinds of housing, with 4 primary exceptions:

- one- or two-family owner-occupied buildings
- space rentals in housing for individuals of the exact same sex, such as college dormitories or boarding houses where all homeowners are of the same sex
- housing intended for people over the age of 55, or over the age of 62
- space rentals in owner-occupied housing

Prohibited actions

These laws apply to the sale or rental of housing and also to mortgage financing and provide defenses against different forms of housing discrimination consisting of the following:

- refusal to make reasonable adjustments to a residence or typical usage area to accommodate an individual's disability
- rejection to clear up accommodations in policies or services if necessary for handicapped persons to utilize the housing

In addition, any multifamily housing developed after 1991 must adhere to availability requirements.

Repairing the damage

If it is found that discrimination has happened, actions might be taken to correct the scenario. These can include:

- requiring modifications in policies and practices
- making the housing or loan readily available
- assessing cash damages or lawyer charges or Imposing civil fines and penalties

If you have questions or believe you have been a victim of housing discrimination, the following firms may be able to help. You can discover contact info for each at the bottom of this websites.

- The Civil Liberty Bureau of the Office of the New York City State Chief law officer examines and prosecutes inequitable policies and patterns or practices of discrimination. The bureau is dedicated to combating housing discrimination throughout the state.
- The New York City State Division of Human Rights manages individual complaints of discrimination. You have one year after a supposed infraction to file a complaint.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) handles individual problems of discrimination based on the federal Fair Housing Act. You have one year after an alleged offense to submit a complaint.
- The New York City City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) manages specific grievances of discrimination based on the New york city City Human Rights Law.

You have one year after an alleged violation to submit a problem. You are prevented from submitting a claim with CCHR if you have currently filed the same claim based upon the very same truths with another company or in court.

Office of the New York City State Attorney General Of The United States Civil Liberty Bureau
28 Liberty Street
New York NY 10005
212-416-8250
1-800-788-9898 (TDD).
Civil Liberty Bureau

New York City State Division of Human Rights.
One Fordham Plaza, 4th Floor.
Bronx NY 10458.
1-888-392-3644.
718-741-8300 (TDD/TTY).
dhr.ny.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Housing Enforcement Center.
26 Federal Plaza, Room 3541.
New York NY 10278-0068.
212-264-8000.
212-264-0927 (TTY).
Hud.gov

New York City City Human Rights Commission.
22 Reade Street, First Floor.
New York NY 10007.
212-306-7450.
nyc.gov/ humanrights

Letitia James

New York State Attorney General

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