Fair Housing Friday: Meet the NYS Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR)—What Every New York Real Estate Pro Should Know

By: Sydney Harewood. LRSP, NYC
Broker: LEVEL
5 West 37th Street
New York, NY 10018
www.nycexclusiveapts.com 
"Your Premier Bridge to Manhattan Living."
#NYCexclAPTS
Phone: 646-535-3819
Email: sharewood@levelgroup.com

Good Friday morning, my friend. Coffee in hand? Let’s keep this crisp, compliant, and client‑safe.

TL;DR (Two-Minute Brief)

• NYSDHR enforces the New York State Human Rights Law, one of the most expansive civil‑rights laws in the country. It outlaws housing discrimination and even covers real‑estate lending.
  
• Who’s covered? With very limited exceptions: owners, tenants, subtenants, managing agents, real‑estate licensees, and their employees.
  
• Examples of violations: Steering, refusing to rent to voucher holders, failing to provide reasonable accommodations, and threatening immigration reports.
  
• Complaint path: From online/phone intake → investigation → probable cause → hearing → final order + remedies.
  
• What’s new: A dedicated Source of Income Unit (with pre‑complaint intervention) and the Division‑Initiated Action Unit (DIAU) for agency‑initiated investigations.
  

Source: REBNY’s Fair Housing Friday email (Sept 12, 2025), authored in collaboration with the NYSDHR.

What is the NYSDHR—and why should you care?

• The NYSDHR enforces the New York State Human Rights Law, which prohibits discrimination across housing, employment, education, public accommodations, and credit. For real‑estate licensees, the housing and real‑estate lending provisions are mission‑critical.
  

Who’s covered & what’s prohibited (housing focus)

• Covered parties: “Anyone who sells, rents, or leases” in NY—owners, tenants, subtenants, managing agents, licensees, and employees—with very limited exceptions.
  
• Protected characteristics (examples): Race, disability, national origin, lawful source of income, familial status, among others.
  
• Prohibited conduct (illustrative):
  

• Steering customers toward/away from neighborhoods based on race/ethnicity.
  
• Refusing to rent upon learning a client uses a rental subsidy (e.g., Section 8).
  
• Refusing reasonable accommodations for a tenant with a disability.
  
• Threatening to report non‑English‑speaking tenants to immigration authorities.
  

How a NYSDHR case typically unfolds (step‑by‑step)

Think of this as your compliance GPS—know the route before you need it.

1. Report filed: Online at dhr.ny.gov/complaint or by phone (844) NYS‑DHR1.
   
2. Jurisdictional review: NYSDHR confirms completeness and jurisdiction; if not met, filer is notified why.
   
3. Service of complaint: Respondents receive the complaint and can respond.
   
4. Investigation: Evidence gathering, witness interviews, document requests—aimed at determining probable cause.
   
5. Probable cause decision: If yes, case proceeds to a public hearing; if no, dismissal (complainant may appeal in state court).
   
6. Public hearing: Before an Administrative Law Judge or in state court; many cases settle before hearing.
   
7. Final order & remedies: The Commissioner may order civil penalties, compensatory damages, policy changes, and other remedial measures.
   

What’s new & notable at NYSDHR

• DIAU (Division‑Initiated Action Unit): NYSDHR can initiate investigations and file complaints on its own.
  
• New Source of Income Unit: Focused on Section 8 voucher discrimination; uses pre‑complaint intervention to rapidly resolve issues and help individuals secure housing.
  

Agent Playbook: Best Practices You Can Use Today

• Standardize your process: One intake script, one set of questions, used consistently for every prospect.
  
• Audit and train: Review policies regularly and complete fair‑housing training—proactive prevention beats reactive defense.
  
• Document everything: Criteria received, options presented, and your communications (audit‑ready and client‑friendly).
  

Client‑Safe Language (Copy/Paste Scripts)

• Use:
  

• “Which neighborhoods would you like me to focus on?”
  
• “Here is a full set of options that match your criteria.”
  

• Avoid:
  

• “You’d be more comfortable in…”
  
• “People like you prefer…”
  
• Any comments implying demographic traits or preferences.
  

(These examples align with the steering risks and protected‑class guidance discussed above.)

Text‑Infographic: NYSDHR Complaint Flow

Report (web/phone)

       │

       ▼

Jurisdiction Check ──► If not eligible → Explanation to filer

       │

       ▼

Complaint Served ──► Respondent’s Answer

       │

       ▼

Investigation (evidence + interviews + docs)

       │

       ▼

Probable Cause?

   │              │

   ▼              ▼

Yes → Public Hearing     No → Case Dismissed (appeal possible)

       │

       ▼

Final Order → Remedies (penalties, damages, policy changes)

Use this to explain the process clearly to clients—or to keep your team aligned on what happens when.

Outlinks for Your Resource Sheet

• File a complaint: https://dhr.ny.gov/complaint
  
• NYSDHR (overview & resources): https://dhr.ny.gov/
  
• REBNY Fair Housing Friday (contact): REBNYCounsel@rebny.com | (212) 201‑1178 | 570 Lexington Ave., NYC.
  

Attribution & Notes

This blog summarizes REBNY’s Fair Housing Friday email, “Understanding the New York State Division of Human Rights,” shared Sept 12, 2025, by Neil B. Garfinkel (REBNY Broker Counsel), prepared in collaboration with NYSDHR.

Important: The email (and this post) is informational only and not legal advice. For specific matters, consult your own attorney.

Sydney Harewood is a real estate professional with a passion for NYC’s architectural gems. For inquiries, call or message Syd at 📞646-535-3819. Experience the finest in NYC real estate with Syd’s expert guidance and deep knowledge of the city’s most exquisite properties.

We hope you found this information helpful. If you have any other questions or need more details, feel free to contact us.