Know Your Rights When Apartment Hunting

If a broker or landlord refuses to rent or show you an apartment because you use government assistance to pay rent, that is source of income discrimination and it’s against the law.

By law, a landlord cannot refuse to rent you an apartment because you are paying with programs such as:

• FHEPS
• CityFHEPS
• Section 8
• Cash Assistance

A landlord who owns a building in NYC with at least three (3) units, or a broker that works with such a landlord, must screen and consider all potential tenants in the same way. It is illegal to use government assistance as a reason to deny someone an apartment.

How Do I Recognize Source of Income Discrimination?

Listen for phrases like:

• "We don’t take programs"
• "We’d prefer another source"
• "Don’t you have any other income?"
• "Ok, that program is fine, but can someone else guarantee the rent?"
• "We will take that program, but you still have to pay first month’s rent, security deposit, and a broker’s fee in cash upfront."

Watch out for landlords or brokers who:

• Insist on a cash security deposit or ask for cash or someone else to guarantee the rent in addition to the security voucher
• Insist on a minimum income or proof of employment when the voucher covers the full rental amount
• Won’t show you any apartments or fail to show all available units within your voucher level
• Won’t provide an application or insist on higher application fees than advertised
• Insist on a particular credit score when the voucher covers the full rental amount
• Require cash or a credit check in order to view or hold the apartment

Have more questions about source of income discrimination?

• Read the Source of Income Discrimination Brochure
• Report Source of Income Discrimination

HRA's Source of Income Discrimination Unit can give a presentation for your organization!

To request a presentation, please email soi@dss.nyc.gov or call 718-557-1399.