In April we celebrate Fair and Equitable Housing Month. In New York State, we have been working very hard to make sure that all of our residents have equal options when buying or renting a home.
As Secretary of State and head of the Department of State, the state agency that licenses and regulates agents in the real estate industry, I assure you that our Department is working efficiently to eradicate discriminatory practices of real estate agents that discredit this industry with its segregationist practices.
Last December, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a package of laws that offer more guarantees to New Yorkers to have access to homes in the places they choose without facing discrimination from real estate agents or landlords who ignore federal, state or licensing regulations. We will not accept that in New York.
The laws that our Governor Hochul signed include doubling the cost of the fine from $1,000 to $2, to real estate agents who do not follow the established regulations. Real estate representatives are also required to take more rigorous training around cultural and social sensitivity to avoid discrimination. The new laws also emphasize that state and local agencies that administer housing programs have an obligation to continue promoting a fair housing system for all.
To avoid any confusion, the Department of State and its Licensing Division has worked closely with the industry to inform them of the regulations and new laws that they must comply with when practicing their profession.
Anyone who has questions about what the laws are To protect communities, you should know that New York State Human Rights Law prohibits housing discrimination based on the following characteristics:
Age, religious creed, race, color, sex, marital status, national origin, military status, sexual orientation. Domestic violence, impediments and sources of income among other categories.
Any real estate professional or landlord who does not comply with these laws is considered incompetent and unreliable and faces disciplinary proceedings, fines or penalties that a court can impose.
We remind you that if you or someone you know has been the victim of discriminatory behavior by real estate workers, report it. Governor Hochul created a help line to prevent these cases from happening. The number to call is 844-862-8703. This number is under the guardianship of the state Human Rights Division, which immediately begins an investigation into cases reported to this helpline. Also for more information, contact the Department of State at www.dos.ny.gov, at our Licensing Division or call 518-474-8703.
To prevent these discriminatory actions from continuing in our state, several government agencies such as the Department of State, The Division of Human Rights and the Housing and Community Renewals agency work together to make sure that no one else is a victim of unscrupulous practices when buying or renting a home.
New York it is a state of almost 20 million inhabitants and many of them come from different parts of the world. We know that diversity is what has made this state a thriving machine and has put it at the forefront of economic and social progress. Here we are not going to allow a few to prevent our society from moving forward with the fundamental right to have decent housing. In New York there is a place for everyone.
Robert Rodríguez is the Secretary of State of New York