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– Home
– Fair Housing

Fair housing

Accessible housing for everyone

Whether you reside in a city, suburban area, or rural community, discovering safe, cost effective housing can be a challenge.

Fortunately, our laws safeguard your right to choose where to live without discrimination based on race, religion, sex, or a variety of other attributes.

Federal and our state laws in New York exist to guarantee that equal housing opportunities are offered to all. Some local governments provide even more securities. This guidance describes a few of those laws and consists of details about what to do if you think a proprietor, seller, or lending institution has actually discriminated versus you.

Housing is among life’s essentials; it is very important that everyone has access to it, devoid of discrimination. If you have any questions or concerns,
please call my office.

Fair housing laws: how we are protected

The federal Fair Housing Act, the New York State Human Rights Law, and various regional laws forbid discrimination by housing service providers (including owners, realty agents, handling representatives, developing superintendents, and cooperative and condo boards), and lending institutions (banks and mortgage business).

– The Federal Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of a person’s race, familial status (presence of children under age 18), color, national origin, religious beliefs, special needs (physical or mental), or sex.
– The New York State Human Rights Law covers all the exact same attributes, and likewise safeguards versus discrimination based upon creed, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, or legal income (public or housing help, Social Security, supplemental security earnings, pension, child assistance, spousal support, foster care aids, annuities, or joblessness advantages). Many city governments have additional defenses. The New York City City Human Rights Law also covers: gender, citizenship status, collaboration status, and lawful profession.

Most housing is included

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

– one- or two-family owner-occupied buildings
– room leasings in housing for individuals of the same sex, such as college dormitories or boarding homes where all locals are of the exact same sex
– housing planned for people 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 rental of housing and also to mortgage lending and offer defenses against various types of housing discrimination including the following:

– rejection to make reasonable adjustments to a house or typical usage location to accommodate a person’s special needs
– refusal to make affordable accommodations in policies or services if essential for handicapped individuals to utilize the housing

In addition, any multifamily housing built after 1991 need to adhere to ease of access requirements.

Repairing the damage

If it is discovered that discrimination has actually occurred, steps may be taken to fix the scenario. These can include:

– needing modifications in policies and practices
– making the housing or loan available
– examining cash damages or lawyer fees or Imposing civil fines and charges

If you have questions or think you have been a victim of housing discrimination, the following firms might have the ability to help. 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 Attorney general of the United States investigates and prosecutes inequitable policies and patterns or practices of discrimination. The bureau is devoted to combating housing discrimination throughout the state.
– The New York City State Division of Human Rights deals with private problems of discrimination. You have one year after an alleged infraction to submit a grievance.
– The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) handles specific problems of discrimination based on the federal Fair Housing Act. You have one year after an alleged infraction to submit a complaint.
– The New York City City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) manages individual complaints 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 precluded from submitting a claim with CCHR if you have currently filed the very same claim based on the same realities with another firm or in court.

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

New York 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 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 Attorney General

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