Bill > S08452

This bill enacts the Regulating Equality in Neighborhood Tenancy Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on credit scores. The legislation amends multiple state laws to add credit scores to the list of protected characteristics, making it illegal for landlords, property owners, real estate brokers, and other housing providers to refuse to rent, lease, or sell housing to individuals solely based on their credit score. The bill requires housing providers to evaluate rental applications using multiple factors, including income level, employment history, rental history, and personal references, rather than relying exclusively on credit scores. It establishes that using credit scores as the sole basis for denying housing is an unlawful discriminatory practice and provides mechanisms for enforcement, including potential civil penalties of $1,000 to $5,000 per violation. The Attorney General is empowered to bring actions against those who violate the law, and there is a rebuttable presumption of discrimination if a potential tenant's credit score is requested and they are subsequently denied housing. Additionally, the bill requires landlords to disclose their tenant evaluation criteria and ensures that the state's housing discrimination complaint line will assist individuals who believe they have been discriminated against based on credit scores.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S8452