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- Home
- Fair Housing

Fair housing

Accessible housing for everybody

Whether you live in a city, residential area, or rural community, finding safe, budget friendly housing can be a challenge.

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

Federal and our state laws in New york city exist to make sure that equivalent housing chances are readily available to all. Some local governments offer even more defenses. This guidance discusses some of those laws and includes details about what to do if you believe a property manager, seller, or lending institution has victimized you.

Housing is among life's fundamentals; it is crucial that everybody has access to it, totally free from discrimination. If you have any concerns or issues,
please call my office.

Fair housing laws: how we are safeguarded

The federal Fair Housing Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, and numerous local laws restrict discrimination by housing suppliers (including owners, real estate agents, managing representatives, building superintendents, and cooperative and condo boards), and loan providers (banks and mortgage companies).

- The Federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of a person's race, familial status (presence of kids under age 18), color, national origin, religion, disability (physical or psychological), or sex.
- The New York State Human Rights Law covers all the same qualities, and also safeguards versus discrimination based on creed, age, sexual preference, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, or lawful source of earnings (public or housing support, Social Security, additional security earnings, pension, child support, alimony, foster care aids, annuities, or welfare). Many city governments have extra protections. The New York City City Human Rights Law also covers: gender, citizenship status, partnership status, and legal occupation.

Most housing is included

In the state of New york city, anti-discrimination laws cover most kinds of housing, with four main exceptions:

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

Prohibited actions

These laws apply to the sale or leasing of housing and also to mortgage financing and supply defenses against various types of housing discrimination consisting of the following:

- rejection to make sensible modifications to a residence or typical usage area to accommodate a person's special needs
- rejection to make affordable accommodations in policies or services if essential for disabled individuals to use the housing

In addition, any multifamily housing constructed after 1991 should comply with ease of access requirements.

Repairing the damage

If it is discovered that discrimination has actually happened, actions may be taken to remedy the scenario. These can include:

- requiring modifications in policies and practices
- making the housing or loan offered
- assessing money damages or lawyer fees or Imposing civil fines and penalties

If you have questions or believe you have been a victim of housing discrimination, the following agencies may be able to assist. You can find 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 prejudiced policies and patterns or practices of discrimination. The bureau is committed to combating housing discrimination throughout the state.
- The New York State Division of Human Rights manages individual problems of discrimination. You have one year after a supposed infraction to submit a complaint.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) handles private grievances of discrimination based upon the federal Fair Housing Act. You have one year after an alleged offense to file a complaint.
- The New York City City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) handles private complaints of discrimination based on the New York City Human Rights Law.

You have one year after an alleged infraction to submit a problem. You are precluded from submitting a claim with CCHR if you have currently submitted the exact same claim based upon the exact same facts with another agency or in court.

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

New York State Division of Human Rights.
One Fordham Plaza, fourth 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 City NY 10278-0068.
212-264-8000.
212-264-0927 (TTY).
Hud.gov

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

Letitia James

New York State Chief Law Officer

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