The NYC Human Rights Law, NYC Admin Code §8-107(5), makes it unlawful for a landlord, broker, or building agent to refuse to rent to anyone because they pay with a Section 8 voucher, CityFHEPS, SSI, child support, or other lawful income source.
Under NYC Admin Code §8-107(5)(a)(1) and the lawful-source-of-income amendment of 2008, NYC landlords with six or more units cannot refuse applicants because they use government rental assistance or other lawful income. The Commission on Human Rights has expanded enforcement: refusing 'no programs,' charging higher rent, requiring higher income multiples that effectively exclude voucher holders, or steering applicants to inferior units all violate §8-107. Real estate brokers are equally bound. Penalties include compensatory damages, civil penalties up to $250,000 per willful violation, mandatory training, and CCHR-ordered policy changes. The 2025 enforcement push has focused on 'minimum income' tests that count only earned income.
Source-of-income discrimination subjects landlords and brokers to compensatory damages, civil penalties up to $125,000 (or $250,000 for willful violations), mandatory training, and orders to rent the unit to the complainant.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
New York, NY
NYC Admin Code §27-2004 and §27-2005, the Tenant Protection Act, make it unlawful for a landlord to engage in conduct intended to force a tenant to vacate. C...
New York, NY
NYCHA and HPD administer Housing Choice Vouchers in New York City. Under NYC Human Rights Law §8-107(5), refusing to rent to a Section 8 voucher holder, or i...
New York, NY
NYC provides strong eviction protections through the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law (RPAPL) and the Housing Court. Rent-stabilized tenants have a ...
See how New York's source-of-income discrimination rules stack up against other locations.
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