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- Home
- Fair Housing

Fair housing

Accessible housing for everybody

Whether you reside in a city, suburban area, or rural community, finding safe, economical housing can be a challenge.

Fortunately, our laws secure your right to select where to live without discrimination based on race, religious beliefs, sex, or a variety of other characteristics.

Federal and our state laws in New york city exist to guarantee that equal housing opportunities are offered to all. Some local governments offer much more protections. This guidance describes some of those laws and consists of information about what to do if you believe a property owner, seller, or lending institution has actually discriminated against you.

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

Fair housing laws: how we are secured

The federal Fair Housing Act, the New York City State Human Rights Law, and different local laws forbid discrimination by housing suppliers (consisting of owners, realty representatives, managing agents, developing superintendents, and cooperative and condominium boards), and lenders (banks and mortgage business).

- The Federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of an individual's race, familial status (existence of kids under age 18), color, national origin, religion, special needs (physical or psychological), or sex.
- The New York City State Human Rights Law covers all the same attributes, and likewise secures versus discrimination based on creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, or lawful income (public or housing support, Social Security, additional security income, pension, kid assistance, alimony, foster care aids, annuities, or welfare). Many regional governments have additional protections. The New York City Human Rights Law also covers: gender, citizenship status, collaboration status, and lawful profession.

Most housing is consisted of

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

- one- or two-family owner-occupied buildings
- room rentals in housing for individuals of the exact same sex, such as college dorm rooms or boarding homes where all locals are of the very same sex
- housing intended for individuals over the age of 55, or over the age of 62
- space rentals in owner-occupied housing

Prohibited actions

These laws use to the sale or leasing of housing and likewise to mortgage lending and offer defenses against different kinds of housing discrimination consisting of the following:

- refusal to make affordable adjustments to a residence or common use location to accommodate an individual's disability
- refusal to make sensible accommodations in policies or services if needed for handicapped individuals to use the housing

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

Repairing the damage

If it is found that discrimination has actually taken location, steps may be required to remedy the situation. These can consist of:

- needing changes in policies and practices
- making the housing or loan offered
- assessing cash damages or lawyer costs or Imposing civil fines and penalties

If you have questions or believe you have actually been a victim of housing discrimination, the following firms may be able to help. You can find contact details for each at the bottom of this web page.

- The Civil Liberty Bureau of the Office of the New York City State Attorney General investigates and prosecutes inequitable policies and patterns or practices of discrimination. The bureau is committed to combating housing discrimination throughout the state.
- The New York City State Division of Human Rights deals with individual grievances of discrimination. You have one year after an alleged violation to file a problem.
- 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 a supposed violation to file a problem.
- The New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) manages individual problems of discrimination based upon the New York City Human Rights Law.

You have one year after an alleged offense to submit a grievance. You are prevented from submitting a claim with CCHR if you have already filed the very same claim based upon the same realities with another firm or in court.

Office of the New York City State Chief Law Officer Civil Rights 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, 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 City Human Rights Commission.
22 Reade Street, First Floor.
New York City NY 10007.
212-306-7450.
nyc.gov/ humanrights

Letitia James

New York City State Attorney General

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