Fair Housing, Rights, and Disclosures

At Educators Realty, we believe that the foundation of a thriving community is equal access to housing. We are committed to upholding the letter and spirit of Federal, State, and Local Fair Housing Laws.

Below you will find information regarding the history of Fair Housing, your rights as a consumer, and the mandatory disclosures required by New York State law.

A Brief History of Fair Housing
The road to fair housing in America has been a long journey toward equality. While the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the first federal law to affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law, it wasn't until the 20th century that specific housing protections were codified.

The landmark moment came with the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act), signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson just one week after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This Act prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin, or sex.

The Local Context: Long Island and New York City
While Fair Housing is a national law, our region has played a unique and difficult role in the history of housing segregation. The New York metropolitan area was the testing ground for many practices that created "de facto" segregation—separation that exists in reality even when not required by law.

Levittown & Restrictive Covenants: When modern suburbia was born in Levittown, NY, it was originally built with "restrictive covenants" in the deeds that explicitly prohibited sales to non-Caucasian buyers. Even after the Supreme Court ruled these unenforceable, unwritten rules often kept neighborhoods segregated.

Infrastructure as a Barrier: Urban planner Robert Moses designed much of our region’s infrastructure. Historical evidence suggests that some decisions—such as building parkway bridges too low for public buses to pass under—were made to restrict lower-income, often minority families from accessing public spaces like Jones Beach.

Redlining: In the 1930s, government-sponsored maps outlined many minority neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx in red, labeling them "hazardous." This denied mortgages and investment to these communities, preventing the accumulation of generational wealth.

The Responsibility of the Real Estate Community
Today, while legal segregation is a thing of the past, the legacy of these practices remains visible in the demographics of our schools and neighborhoods.

The local real estate community has a profound responsibility to dismantle these invisible walls. By adhering to strict Standardized Operating Procedures, engaging in implicit bias training, and ensuring that every buyer is shown every home they qualify for—regardless of zip code—we act not as gatekeepers, but as bridge builders. It is our duty to ensure that where you live is a matter of choice, not a result of history.

Watch: A History of Fair Housing 

Why Fair Housing Matters
For the real estate community, Fair Housing is not just a set of rules—it is a code of ethics.

For the Community: It prevents segregation, promotes diverse neighborhoods, and ensures that zip codes do not dictate a person's quality of life.

For the Economy: It ensures an open market where goods and services are available to all qualified consumers.

For the Individual: It protects the fundamental human right to shelter and the ability to build generational wealth through property ownership without facing arbitrary barriers.

Know Your Rights: Protected Classes
Discrimination involves treating someone differently in any aspect of housing because they belong to a "protected class." Because Educators Realty operates in New York, we strictly adhere to Federal, State, and NYC Human Rights laws.

1. Federal Protected Classes

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• National Origin
• Sex
• Disability
• Familial Status (presence of children under 18)

2. New York State Additional Protections

• New York State adds the following protections to the Federal list:
• Age
• Marital Status
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender Identity or Expression
• Military Status
• Source of Income (You cannot be denied housing solely because you use Section 8, vouchers, or government assistance)
• Citizenship or Immigration Status

3. New York City Additional Protections
If you are buying or renting within the five boroughs, NYC Human Rights Law is among the strictest in the nation, covering:

• Partnership Status
• Lawful Occupation
• Status as a Victim of Domestic Violence
• Veteran or Active Military Status
• Height & Weight (As of late 2023, discrimination based on height or weight is prohibited in housing)

Rights and Responsibilities

For Buyers and Tenants
You have the right to rent or buy a home without being discriminated against. You have the right to:

• View all available properties for which you are financially qualified.
• Receive the same pricing, terms, and incentives as anyone else.
• Be free from harassment or intimidation.
• Access reasonable accommodations if you have a disability (e.g., a service animal in a "no pets" building).

For Sellers and Landlords
You have the responsibility to follow the law. However, you also have rights. You have the right to:

• Screen applicants based on objective financial criteria (credit score, income amount, rental history)—provided these standards are applied equally to all applicants.
• Reject offers or applications for legitimate, non-discriminatory business reasons.

The "Long Island Divided" Investigation
In November 2019, Newsday published the results of a three-year undercover investigation titled "Long Island Divided." (Watch here) This landmark report exposed widespread, systemic housing discrimination that many thought was a thing of the past.

Using "paired testing"—where two testers of different backgrounds but identical financial profiles interact with the same agent—the investigation revealed that minority homebuyers were frequently treated differently than their white counterparts. Key findings included:

Disparate Requirements: Agents often asked minority buyers for mortgage pre-approvals and identification before showing homes, while skipping these steps for white buyers.

Steering: Despite being illegal since 1968, the investigation showed agents frequently directing white buyers toward predominantly white neighborhoods and minority buyers toward more diverse areas.

From Investigation to Action: The SOP Law
In response to these findings, New York State enacted new legislation to ensure fairness and transparency. One of the most significant outcomes is the requirement for Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP).

To prevent the unfair treatment uncovered in the report, all real estate brokers must now establish and publish a consistent policy regarding:

• Requiring Identification
• Exclusive Broker Agreements
• Mortgage Pre-Approval

By mandating that these requirements be applied universally to every prospective buyer, the law removes the opportunity for subjective, discriminatory decision-making. You can see the SOP for Educators Realty here.

Required New York State Disclosures
In accordance with New York Department of State regulations, Educators Realty provides the following mandatory documents for your review.

1. NYS Fair Housing Notice
This notice outlines your basic rights under the law and includes contact information for the Department of State. You can see the Fair Housing Notice here.  The Fair Housing Disclosure can be found here. 

2. Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP)
Per NYS Law, Educators Realty maintains the following Standardized Operating Procedures for all prospective homebuyers. These procedures are applied universally to all buyers.  See our SOP here.

3. Agency Disclosure Form
This form explains who the agent represents in a transaction (the buyer, the seller, or both). It is not a contract, but a consumer protection form to ensure you understand where the agent's loyalty lies.  See the Agency Disclosure here. 

Filing a Complaint
If you believe you have been a victim of housing discrimination, you have the right to file a complaint with the appropriate authority.

New York State Division of Human Rights:
Website: dhr.ny.gov
Phone: (888) 392-3644

U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):
Website: hud.gov
Phone: (800) 669-9777