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Fair Housing Notice

Fieldstone & Finch Realty is an Equal Housing Opportunity brokerage. Everyone who buys, sells or rents through us gets the same service, the same information and the same respect.

This page is a plain-language summary for our clients and visitors. It is not legal advice. The official New York State Fair Housing Notice is posted in both of our offices and is available from either office on request, in print or by email.

Our commitment

Fair housing law says that it's illegal to discriminate in the sale, rental or financing of housing, and in the services real estate agents provide, because of who someone is. We'd hold ourselves to that standard even if it weren't the law. In practice, it means:

  • We show any home to anyone who is qualified to see it, and we never steer a buyer or renter toward or away from a town, a street or a building because of who lives there or who they are.
  • We describe properties, not the people we imagine living in them. You won't see "perfect for a young family," "ideal for a professional couple" or "walk to church" in our listings. You'll see "three bedrooms," "a fenced yard" and "a ten-minute walk to the train."
  • We apply the same procedures (identification, buyer agreements, pre-approval before offers, rental screening criteria) to every client. They're written down in our Standard Operating Procedures.
  • We don't answer questions about the race, religion, national origin or other protected characteristics of a neighborhood's residents, and we don't describe neighborhoods as "safe" or "good." We'll point you to public data and encourage you to visit and decide for yourself.
  • We won't take a listing from a seller or landlord who asks us to discriminate, and we'll tell them why.

Who is protected

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, familial status (having children under 18, or being pregnant) and disability.

New York's Human Rights Law goes further. In New York it's also illegal to discriminate in housing based on, among others:

  • age
  • creed
  • sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression
  • marital status
  • military status
  • lawful source of income, including housing vouchers, public assistance, Social Security and child support
  • status as a victim of domestic violence

Some counties, cities and towns in the Hudson Valley have their own local fair housing laws that add further protections. The list above is a general summary; the laws themselves control.

What discrimination can look like

Discrimination isn't always a door shut in someone's face. It can be subtle. Examples of conduct the law prohibits include:

  • Refusing to show, sell or rent a home, or saying a home is unavailable when it isn't.
  • Offering different prices, terms, deposits or conditions to different people.
  • Steering: suggesting someone would be "more comfortable" in a different town or building.
  • Advertising that indicates a preference for, or against, any protected group.
  • Refusing to accept a housing voucher or other lawful source of income.
  • Refusing a reasonable accommodation or modification for a person with a disability.
  • Harassment, threats or retaliation against someone who exercises fair housing rights.

Reasonable accommodations and modifications

People with disabilities have the right to ask for reasonable accommodations in rules, policies and services (for example, an assistance animal in a building with a no-pets rule, or a reserved parking space near the entrance), and for reasonable modifications to a home (for example, a ramp or grab bars). At our rental desk, ask Hollis Greer; for any other request, ask your agent or either office. We'll work with you and with the owner, and we'll respond in writing.

If you need any information on this website in another format, or help getting into one of our offices, call (845) 555-0127 and we'll arrange it. Both offices have a step at the entrance; the Kingston office has a portable ramp, and in Beacon we'll gladly meet you at a nearby accessible location.

How to report discrimination

If you believe you've been discriminated against by anyone at Fieldstone & Finch, please tell us. Write to Nadia Finch, Principal Broker, at 212 Ferry Lantern Street, Beacon, NY 12508, or email nadia@fieldstonefinch.example. She'll respond personally within five business days. Reporting it to us doesn't stop you from going to a government agency, and you don't need to come to us first.

You can file a complaint with:

  • The New York State Division of Human Rights, which enforces the state Human Rights Law. Complaints generally need to be filed within one year of the discrimination.
  • The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which enforces the federal Fair Housing Act. Complaints generally need to be filed within one year.
  • The New York Department of State, which licenses real estate brokers and agents and can investigate complaints about a licensee's conduct.
  • Your county or local human rights commission, if your town has one.

You may also have the right to bring a lawsuit in court. Deadlines and procedures vary; a lawyer or a local fair housing organization can help you understand your options. Many provide help for free.

Fieldstone & Finch Realty · Licensed Real Estate Broker, New York State · Equal Housing Opportunity. Last reviewed January 2025.