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Tenant Rights for Seniors in New York

Senior citizens and all New Yorkers have the right to live free from discrimination based on age, sex, disability, race, religion, creed or familial status. Many senior citizens can be the target of age discrimination in housing, employment and other areas. Discrimination is illegal.

What to watch for:

• Landlords may not discriminate because of age, and may not refuse to rent an apartment or refuse to renew a lease on the basis of age [Executive Law Section 296(5)];
  
  
• In addition, New York law provides special protections for senior citizens who face eviction or the loss of utility service such as electric, heat or telephone;
  
  
• The law also prevents businesses from discriminating either in employment or accommodations based on age or disability;
  
  
• Businesses must make reasonable accommodations for patrons with disabilities, such as providing wheelchair access or special services for the visually or hearing-impaired.

What to do:

The Attorney General is responsible for enforcing state and federal Civil Rights laws in New York State. Complaints alleging discrimination against individuals are primarily handled by other agencies, including the New York State Division of Human Rights.

Seniors who feel they were victims of age discrimination may file complaints with the Division of Human Rights by calling (518) 474-2705. You may also file a complaint with the Attorney General's Civil Rights Bureau in New York City by calling (212) 416-8240.

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Real Estate Financing Bureau

The Attorney General's Real Estate Financing Bureau regulates the conversion of rental buildings to cooperative or condominium ownership, as well as the filing of offering plans for newly built cooperatives, condominiums and homeowner associations. The offering plans submitted to tenants, prospective tenants, or prospective purchasers must be accepted by Real Estate Financing Bureau before the conversion process or sale can proceed.

Certain protections apply to persons who are 62 years of age or older and who live in buildings being converted to cooperatives or condominiums in New York City, Nassau, Rockland and Westchester counties and elsewhere in the state where senior citizen and disabled tenant protection laws are in effect. Those senior citizens are entitled to remain in their apartments without buying and may retain rights of rent regulated tenants.

Source: Office of New York State Attorney General

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