The City Human Rights Law protects residents of most types of housing in New York City against discrimination. If you reside in an apartment building or multiple family dwelling, co-op, condominium, government-assisted housing, or residential hotel, you are covered under the Law. The Law does not extend to residents of two-family houses if the owner or a member of the owner’s family resides in one of the housing accommodations and the available housing accommodation was not advertised. In addition, you are not covered by the Law if you rent a room or rooms in non-government assisted housing where the owner resides.

It is unlawful for landlords, superintendents, building managers, condominium owners, cooperative owners and boards to discriminate in the sale, rental or lease of a housing accommodation or in the provision of services and facilities because of a person’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, gender (including gender identity), disability, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, partnership status, alienage or citizenship status, any lawfull source of income, age, lawful occupation, or because children are or may be residing with the person.

Reasonable Accommodation for Persons with Disabilities in Housing

The City Human Rights Law protects the rights of people with disabilities by requiring that landlords, co-ops and condominiums reasonably accommodate the needs of disabled tenants, shareholders or owners. Reasonable accommodation can be structural, such as a ramp at the primary entrance to provide wheelchair access, or installing grab bars in the bathroom. They can also involve policy or rule changes, such as permitting a tenant who is blind or has a psychological disability to have a guide dog or a companion animal, despite a building’s “no pets” policy. The Law provides guidance in assessing requests for reasonable accommodation, taking into account the nature and cost of the proposed accommodation and the financial resources of the landlord.

The City Human Rights Law also requires the landlord to pay for an accommodation in a common area if it is deemed to be reasonable.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation, you should inform the landlord and identify the type of accommodation you need. You may have to give the landlord a note from your doctor or other health care professional stating that you have a disability and describing the functional limitations that your disability imposes. You do not have to give the landlord your medical records.

Advertising

It is against the law to advertise or to use any form of application for the purchase, rental or lease of a housing accommodation, or to make any inquiry regarding the prospective purchase, rental or lease of a housing accommodation that discriminates against the protected groups.

Lending Practices

The City Human Rights Law also prohibits discriminatory lending practices by any person, bank, trust company, private banker, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit union, investment company, mortgage company, insurance company or any other financial institution or lender when you apply for a loan, mortgage or other financial assistance for construction, repairs or maintenance of your property. It is also against the law for financial institutions to redline, the practice of denying mortgages to prospective purchasers in certain communities.