Your Rights


Fair Housing is Your Right
What is the Law	Who is Protected	Discrimination

Landlord's Rights FAQ's

The Law
Federal and New York State laws make it illegal to deny housing to a person on the basis of: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, age, sexual orientation, military status or familial status (the presence of children in a family). Local ordinances in Buffalo, Hamburg, and West Seneca, New York prohibit discrimination on the basis of lawful source of income and Buffalo, New York's fair housing ordinance also prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression.

It is Also Illegal To:
-Steer people to different housing opportunities. -Publish advertisements or make statements which discriminate (for example, "no children," or "couple preferred"). -Ask questions or record information about an applicant's race, national origin, marital status, age, disability, etc. -Deny housing or pretend that housing is not available. -Discriminate in the terms or conditions of a sale or rental (for example, charging different rents to different people for the exact same property). -Refuse to allow a disabled person to make "reasonable modifications" to a dwelling to permit occupancy. -Refuse to make "reasonable accommodations" in rental policies to permit occupancy by someone with disabilities.


You are Protected:
Fair housing protects everyone whether you are a renter, homebuyer, realtor or landlord. Housing Opportunities Made Equal believes that fair housing is in everyone’s best interest. When you deny segments of the population housing opportunities you deny equal access to schools, public transportation, area businesses and other services. In effect, you deny victims of discrimination an equal opportunity in life.


Discrimination:
The language of discrimination can be clear, "We don't rent to your kind of people," but often it is hidden in language like this: "I don’t think you would be happy in this neighborhood." "We don’t have any listings for you now." "In the winter this place costs a fortune to heat!" "Sorry, that apartment was just rented. I doubt we will have anything available soon." "With young children would you feel safe living on a street as busy as this?" If you think that you are being discriminated against please contact us right away. Not only will you be ensuring fair housing for yourself, but you will also be helping your community. For contact information click here. If you choose to e-mail us, please be sure to include a daytime telephone number and an address where a fair housing counselor can reach you.


Landlord's Rights:
As a landlord, you have the right to choose a tenant that will pay the rent on time, be respectful of property and be a considerate neighbor. You are also protected from intimidation by neighbors who discriminate. You have the same rights as renters when purchasing residential property. To learn how to find good tenants and to avoid problem tenants contact us for more information and to receive HOME's free brochure "Choosing Good Tenants." We also publish the premier resource for landlords, A Guide to Landlords' Rights (available for a small charge). For more information about our free and low cost publications click here.


FAQ's: *What if I don’t have any proof discrimination took place?* You don’t have to be absolutely sure discrimination took place before you call us. Some people come to HOME at first because they just have a “feeling” they are being treated differently than other tenants or applicants. We know that discrimination today can be very subtle and have methods of investigating these kinds of claims. *What will HOME do?* HOME will record your information, investigate the complaint, explain your options, and, based on our many years of experience, recommend the best course of action. Depending on what YOU decide, we may help to work out an agreement between you and the offender, assist you in filing an administrative complaint, or link you with an attorney who can file a lawsuit on your behalf. And we will be there for you to provide support until your case is resolved. *Won’t this cost a lot of money?* All of HOME’s services are free and confidential. *What if I’m wrong? Can I get in trouble for making a false report?* There are no consequences for you if you make a report to HOME and our investigation reveals no evidence of discrimination. In that case, no further action will be taken, we will close the file, and your report will remain confidential. *Won’t reporting discrimination ruin my chances of getting or keeping the housing of my choice?* Before we do anything, we always talk to you about what impact (if any) a course of action might have on your housing situation. You must authorize any action we take on your behalf. *Can I report discrimination even if don’t want to live there?* Even if you no longer want the housing you were denied, you can still report the crime that was committed against you. Your rights were violated and you were robbed of a place to live. Reporting this will also help assure that others do not have to experience what you went through. *Why should I report discrimination?* When you report discrimination, you are taking back control. You are letting the offender know that discrimination is wrong and that there are consequences. Reporting discrimination is the first step toward getting compensated for your loss. If you are around children, they will be watching to see what you do. If you do nothing, they will learn that they are powerless against injustice. If you fight back, they will learn to stand up for their rights.
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