Buying or selling a Staten Island home, comes great responsibility. Your Staten Island real estate professional also has the same responsibility to uphold when it comes to equal housing opportunity.
What is Equal Housing Opportunity?
The Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) was established "to eliminate housing discrimination, promote economic opportunity, and achieve diverse, inclusive communities by leading the nation in the enforcement, administration, development, and public understanding of federal fair housing policies and laws."
How is Responsibility Shared?
Responsibility is held by home buyer, home seller and your Staten Island real estate professional.
Home sellers and landlords have a requirement under the law not to discriminate in the sale or rental of a property "on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin." Licensed real estate salesperson can not be given limitations to uphold among buyers in the sale or rental. There can not be any denial that housing is available, or advertise that the property is available among a specified selection of people.
Home buyers have the right for housing to be available without discrimination or other limitations. Home buyers have a right to equal professional service, no discrimination in finances or insurance, free from discrimination for fair housing rights, the opportunity for broad housing choices, and more.
Licensed real estate professionals "are prohibited by law from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. A request from the home seller or landlord to act in a discriminatory manner in the sale, lease or rental cannot legally be fulfilled by the real estate professional."
Which residency is covered?
Residents and applicants in New York City are covered under the Law if you reside in:
- Privately owned housing;
- Public or government-subsidized housing;
- Cooperatives and condominiums;
- Residential hotels (transient hotels are considered places of public accommodation);
- Two-family owner-occupied housing, if the owner makes the rental apartment available to the public through advertising or public notice.
It is important to know your rights and obligations during a real estate transaction. All real estate agents are trained in FHEO, so if you have any questions, contact one of our Staten Island real estate agents.
Posted by Tom Crimmins Realty on
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