What additional protections does NYC law provide beyond the federal Fair Housing Act?

NYC Administrative Code §8-107 — enforced by the NYC Commission on Human Rights — is more comprehensive than the federal Fair Housing Act. In addition to the seven federal protected classes, NYC law prohibits housing discrimination based on: lawful source of income (including Section 8, CityFHEPS, SSDI, SSI, child support, and all other lawful income), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, age, military status, domestic violence victim status, and arrest record (in housing). Civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation plus compensatory and punitive damages.

Equal Housing Opportunity

Our Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity Commitment

Q: What is the Fair Housing Act and does it apply in Queens, NY?

The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §§3601–3619) is the federal law that prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (having children under 18), and disability. It applies in every state, including New York, and covers all of Queens, Long Island, and New York City. Violations are investigated by HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Gadura Real Estate complies fully with the Fair Housing Act.

Q: Is source of income a protected class in NYC housing?

Yes. NYC Administrative Code §8-107(5) explicitly makes lawful source of income a protected class in all housing transactions in New York City. This means a landlord, broker, or seller cannot discriminate against anyone based on the lawful source of their income — including Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers, CityFHEPS, SSDI, SSI, child support, alimony, unemployment insurance, pension, Social Security, or any other lawful source. NY Executive Law §170-d (added in 2019) extends source-of-income protections statewide across all of New York.

Q: What should I do if I experience housing discrimination in Queens?

If you experience housing discrimination in Queens or anywhere in NYC, you can file a complaint with: (1) NYC Commission on Human Rights — 212-416-0197 or nyc.gov/cchr — free, no attorney required, up to 3 years to file; (2) NY State Division of Human Rights — 888-392-3644 or dhr.ny.gov — 1 year statute of limitations; (3) HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity — 1-800-669-9777 or hud.gov/fairhousing — 1 year statute of limitations. Document all evidence: emails, texts, screenshots of listings, names and dates of conversations. Discrimination is illegal regardless of whether the refusal is overt or subtle.

Q: Does Gadura Real Estate serve all communities regardless of race, religion, or national origin?

Yes, absolutely. Gadura Real Estate LLC is committed to serving every person, family, and community seeking housing in Queens and Long Island — regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, or any other characteristic. Our team speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Spanish, and Guyanese Creole specifically because we want to serve communities whose first language is not English. We have long-standing relationships with the Indian, Guyanese, Indo-Caribbean, Bengali, Caribbean, Hispanic, and Black communities of Queens and Long Island. Call (917) 705-0132 for a free consultation.

Q: What does it mean to be an Equal Housing Opportunity real estate brokerage?

An Equal Housing Opportunity brokerage commits to working with all buyers, sellers, renters, and landlords without discrimination on any basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. At Gadura Real Estate, this means: every client receives the same quality of service and market information; we never steer clients toward or away from neighborhoods based on protected characteristics; we never represent certain properties as unavailable when they are available; and we educate our clients about their rights. All of our licensees have completed NY DOS–required fair housing and implicit-bias continuing education under 19 NYCRR §177.9.

Gadura Real Estate LLC serves every person, family, and community in Queens and Long Island with equal respect, equal information, and equal access — because fair housing is not just the law. It is what we believe.

Is Gadura Real Estate an equal opportunity brokerage? Yes — fully and without reservation. Gadura Real Estate LLC complies with the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §§3601–3619), New York Human Rights Law §296, NY Executive Law §170-d (source of income), and NYC Administrative Code §8-107 — the most comprehensive fair housing law in the country. All of our licensees have completed NY DOS–required fair housing and implicit-bias continuing education under 19 NYCRR §177.9. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected class. We serve queens of every community: Indian, Guyanese, Indo-Caribbean, Bengali, Caribbean, Hispanic, Black, and every family that makes Queens and Long Island their home. Call (917) 705-0132 for a free consultation.

Our Mission: Housing for Every Community in Queens

Gadura Real Estate was founded in 2006 as a family-owned brokerage in Ozone Park, Queens. We began by serving the Indo-Caribbean and Guyanese community — the community we come from. Over two decades, we have expanded our service to every corner of Queens and Long Island, while staying true to the values that founded us: transparency, respect, and the belief that every family deserves a fair shot at homeownership and stable housing.

Queens is the most ethnically diverse county in the United States. Our goal is to be the most representative real estate brokerage in that county — speaking the languages our clients speak, understanding the cultures they come from, and advocating for their rights every step of the way.

Multilingual Service. Our team speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Spanish, and Guyanese Creole — because fair housing means nothing if the paperwork and negotiations happen in a language you cannot fully understand. Every client has the right to a real estate transaction they can follow in their own language.

The Three Layers of Fair Housing Law That Protect You

Fair housing protections in Queens and New York City come from three overlapping bodies of law. Each layer adds additional protected classes and enforcement mechanisms. Together, they provide the most comprehensive housing rights framework in the United States.

Federal

Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §§3601–3619)

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, financing, or brokerage of housing based on seven protected classes. Enforced by HUD. Applies nationwide, including all of Queens and Long Island. Complaints: 1-800-669-9777 or hud.gov/fairhousing.

New York State

NY Human Rights Law §296 + Executive Law §170-d

NY Human Rights Law §296 extends protections to additional classes including age, marital status, sexual orientation, and military status. NY Executive Law §170-d (L.2019, c.36) adds lawful source of income statewide. Enforced by the NYS Division of Human Rights. Complaints: 888-392-3644 or dhr.ny.gov.

NYC Local Law

NYC Administrative Code §8-107

The most comprehensive fair housing law in the U.S. Adds immigration status, citizenship status, lawful source of income (Section 8, CityFHEPS, SSDI, SSI, all lawful income), gender identity, domestic violence victim status, and arrest record. Penalties up to $250,000. Enforced by NYC Commission on Human Rights: 212-416-0197 or nyc.gov/cchr.

All Protected Classes — Know Your Rights

The following characteristics are legally protected in New York City housing transactions. Discrimination based on any of these is illegal and can result in substantial civil penalties:

Federal (Fair Housing Act) Added by NYS Law Added by NYC Law

Race

Color

National Origin

Religion

Sex

Familial Status

Disability

Age

Marital Status

Sexual Orientation

Military Status

Lawful Source of Income (Statewide)

Immigration Status

Citizenship Status

Gender Identity/Expression

Domestic Violence Victim Status

Arrest Record

Section 8 / HCV

CityFHEPS

SSDI / SSI

Child Support Income

Source of Income — A Critical NYC Protection

One of the most practically significant fair housing protections in New York City is the source-of-income protection under NYC Administrative Code §8-107. This protection means landlords, brokers, and sellers in New York City cannot discriminate against any person based on how they pay their rent or purchase price — whether through:

Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers — administered by NYCHA for low-income renters
CityFHEPS — NYC DSS/HRA's homelessness-prevention rental supplement
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)
SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
Child support or alimony
Unemployment insurance
Pension or Social Security retirement benefits
Any other lawful source of income

New York State law (NY Executive Law §170-d, enacted 2019) extends this protection to all counties in New York State. This means the source-of-income protection applies not only in NYC but throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, and all of Long Island where Gadura Real Estate operates.

If you are a Queens or Long Island renter or buyer with a Housing Choice Voucher, CityFHEPS, SSDI, SSI, or any other lawful income source, you have the same right to housing as any other buyer or renter. No landlord, broker, or seller may legally refuse to work with you, misrepresent availability, offer different terms, or otherwise discriminate because of your income source. Violations carry civil penalties up to $250,000 in NYC, plus compensatory and punitive damages.

What Housing Discrimination Looks Like — and What We Do Not Do

Housing discrimination can be overt or subtle. The following are all illegal forms of discrimination under applicable law. Gadura Real Estate does none of these:

Steering. Directing buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on their race, national origin, religion, or any protected characteristic. We show clients every property that meets their stated criteria.
Misrepresenting availability. Telling a buyer or renter that a property is unavailable when it is, in fact, available. Every client gets accurate availability information.
Refusing to negotiate. Declining to present offers or enter into negotiations based on a buyer's or renter's protected characteristics. We represent every client's offers fully and vigorously.
Advertising with exclusionary language. Posting listings with phrases like "no Section 8," "no vouchers," "preferred nationality," or any other exclusionary language. Our listings comply fully with fair housing advertising standards.
Applying different terms. Offering different lease terms, sales prices, commission arrangements, or service levels based on a client's protected characteristics.
Blockbusting. Making representations about the entry of people of a particular group into a neighborhood to induce sales. We never engage in blockbusting.
Redlining. Refusing to serve, or providing inferior service in, certain geographic areas based on their racial or ethnic composition. We serve all of Queens and Long Island equally.
Discriminatory mortgage financing. While we are a real estate brokerage and not a lender, we refuse to refer clients to any lender that engages in discriminatory lending practices.

The Communities We Serve

Gadura Real Estate's deep community roots are a source of pride — and a commitment. We serve the full spectrum of Queens and Long Island communities:

Indian & South Asian

Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati spoken. Serving Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Jackson Heights, Floral Park, Hicksville.

Guyanese & Indo-Caribbean

Our founding community. Guyanese Creole spoken. Serving South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Howard Beach, South Jamaica.

Bengali

Bengali spoken. Serving Jamaica, Briarwood, Jackson Heights, and Ozone Park.

Caribbean

Haitian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Barbadian communities. Serving Jamaica, St. Albans, Springfield Gardens, Hollis.

Hispanic / Latino

Spanish spoken. Serving Corona, Jackson Heights, Woodside, Elmhurst, and Sunset Park.

Black Community

Long-serving the Black communities of Jamaica, Hollis, St. Albans, Laurelton, Rosedale, and Canarsie.

Section 8 & HCV Holders

Full advocacy for Housing Choice Voucher holders. Your voucher is a legal right, and we enforce it.

CityFHEPS Holders

We work with CityFHEPS tenants and landlords. Your source of income is a protected class in NYC.

Our Fair Housing Compliance Program

Gadura Real Estate maintains active fair housing compliance through the following practices:

Continuing education. All licensees complete NY DOS–required fair housing and implicit-bias continuing education under 19 NYCRR §177.9, which mandates 2.5 hours of fair housing training per renewal cycle.
Agency disclosure. We provide every client with the NY DOS Agency Disclosure form (DOS-1736-a) as required by Real Property Law §443 at the first substantive contact.
Standard operating procedures. Our Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are posted publicly at gadurarealestate.com/standard-operating-procedures.html as required by NY Real Property Law §442-h.
No discriminatory advertising. All listings and advertising comply with HUD's Fair Housing in Advertising guidelines and the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics.
Source-of-income policy. We expressly decline to list properties for landlords who have a stated policy of refusing Section 8, CityFHEPS, or other lawful income sources — doing so would make us party to illegal discrimination.

What to Do If You Experience Housing Discrimination

If you believe you have experienced housing discrimination in Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island, or anywhere in New York, you have multiple avenues for redress. File a complaint — it is free, and you do not need an attorney to initiate the process:

NYC Commission on Human Rights

Most comprehensive protection — all NYC protected classes including source of income. Up to 3 years to file. Free legal representation available.

nyc.gov/cchr →
212-416-0197

NY State Division of Human Rights

State law protections. 1-year statute of limitations. Covers statewide source-of-income protections under Executive Law §170-d.

dhr.ny.gov →
888-392-3644

HUD Office of Fair Housing

Federal Fair Housing Act. 1-year statute of limitations. Covers seven federal protected classes. Nationwide jurisdiction.

hud.gov/fairhousing →
1-800-669-9777

Private Civil Litigation

Victims of housing discrimination can also bring private lawsuits in federal or state court. An attorney specializing in civil rights or housing law can advise on damages and remedies.

Find NY Fair Housing Attorneys →

Document everything. Screenshots of listings with discriminatory language, emails refusing to show properties, text messages, voicemails, and a written log of dates, times, and names of everyone involved — all of this is evidence. File your complaint promptly — statutes of limitations are typically 1–3 years depending on the forum.

Every Client Deserves Equal Service.

Whether you are buying, selling, renting, or looking for a tenant — Gadura Real Estate serves you with full legal compliance and genuine commitment to fair housing.

Call (917) 705-0132 Request a Free Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Fair Housing Act and does it apply in Queens, NY?

The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. §§3601–3619) prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability. It applies nationwide — including all of Queens and Long Island. Violations are investigated by HUD. File complaints at hud.gov/fairhousing or 1-800-669-9777.

What additional protections does NYC law add beyond the federal Fair Housing Act?

NYC Administrative Code §8-107 adds: lawful source of income (Section 8, CityFHEPS, SSDI, SSI, child support, all lawful income), sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, immigration status, citizenship status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, and arrest record. Civil penalties up to $250,000 per violation plus damages. File with NYC Commission on Human Rights at 212-416-0197 or nyc.gov/cchr.

Is source of income a protected class in NYC housing?

Yes. NYC Admin Code §8-107 and NY Executive Law §170-d (statewide) both make lawful source of income a protected class. This covers Section 8 / HCV, CityFHEPS, SSDI, SSI, child support, alimony, unemployment, pension, and all other lawful income. Landlords, brokers, and sellers in NYC cannot legally refuse anyone based on their income source.

What should I do if I experience housing discrimination in Queens?

File a complaint with: (1) NYC Commission on Human Rights — 212-416-0197 or nyc.gov/cchr (3-year window); (2) NY Division of Human Rights — 888-392-3644 or dhr.ny.gov (1 year); (3) HUD — 1-800-669-9777 or hud.gov/fairhousing (1 year). Document everything: emails, texts, screenshots, names, and dates. You do not need an attorney to file.

Does Gadura Real Estate serve all communities regardless of race, religion, or national origin?

Yes, fully and without reservation. We serve Indian, Guyanese, Indo-Caribbean, Bengali, Caribbean, Hispanic, Black, and every other Queens and Long Island community. Our team speaks Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Spanish, and Guyanese Creole. Every client receives equal service, equal information, and equal advocacy.

What does it mean to be an Equal Housing Opportunity real estate brokerage?

It means every client receives the same quality of service and market information; we never steer clients toward or away from neighborhoods based on protected characteristics; we never misrepresent availability; we do not post discriminatory advertising; and all licensees complete NY DOS–required fair housing continuing education under 19 NYCRR §177.9.

Related Resources

Gadura Real Estate, LLC · NYS Firm Broker License #10991238487 · Supervising Broker: Vinod K. Gadura · 106-09 101st Ave, Ozone Park, NY 11416 · (917) 705-0132 · Nitink.gadura@gmail.com. This page is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. Protected class lists and penalty amounts are current as of the page publication date and may change with subsequent legislation. For legal advice regarding fair housing rights or violations, consult a licensed NY attorney or contact the appropriate enforcement agency. All licensees have completed NY DOS–required fair housing and implicit-bias continuing education (19 NYCRR §177.9). Equal Housing Opportunity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, disability, military status, domestic-violence-victim status, lawful source of income, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law.