NOTICE DISCLOSING TENANTS’ RIGHTS TO REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Reasonable Accommodations 

The New York State Human Rights Law requires housing providers to make reasonable accommodations or modifications to a building or living space to meet the needs of people with disabilities. For example, if you have a physical, mental, or medical impairment, you can ask your housing provider to make the common areas of your building accessible, or to change certain policies to meet your needs.

To request a reasonable accommodation, you should contact your property manager by calling (631) 504-0287 or by e-mailing leisurecountry@hotmail.com.

You will need to inform your housing provider that you have a disability or health problem that interferes with your use of housing, and that your request for accommodation may be necessary to provide you equal access and opportunity to use and enjoy your housing or the amenities and services normally offered by your housing provider. A housing provider may request medical information, when necessary to support that there is a covered disability and that the need for the accommodation is disability related.

If you believe that you have been denied a reasonable accommodation for your disability, or that you were denied housing or retaliated against because you requested a reasonable accommodation, you can file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights as described at the end of this notice. 

Specifically, if you have a physical, mental, or medical impairment, you can request: Permission to change the interior of your housing unit to make it accessible (however, you are required to pay for these modifications, and in the case of a rental your housing provider may require that you restore the unit to its original condition when you move out); Changes to your housing provider’s rules, policies, practices, or services; Changes to common areas of the building so you have an equal opportunity to use the building.

The New York State Human Rights Law requires housing providers to pay for reasonable modifications to common use areas.



Examples of reasonable modifications and accommodations that may be requested under the New York State Human Rights Law include: If you have a mobility impairment, your housing provider may be required to provide you with a ramp or other reasonable means to permit you to enter and exit the building; If your healthcare provider provides documentation that having an animal will assist with your disability, you should be permitted to have the animal in your home despite a “no pet” rule; If you need grab bars in your bathroom, you can request permission to install them at your own expense. If your housing was built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 and the walls need to be reinforced for grab bars, your housing provider must pay for that to be done; If you have an impairment that requires a parking space close to your unit, you can request your housing provider to provide you with that parking space, or place you at the top of a waiting list if no adjacent spot is available; If you have a visual impairment and require printed notices in an alternative format such as large print font, or need notices to be made available to you electronically, you can request that accommodation from your landlord.

Required Accessibility Standards

All buildings constructed for use after March 13, 1991, are required to meet the following standards: Public and common areas must be readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities; All doors must be sufficiently wide to allow passage by persons in wheelchairs; and All multi-family buildings must contain accessible passageways, fixtures, outlets, thermostats, bathrooms, and kitchens.



If you believe that your building does not meet the required accessibility standards, you can file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights.

How to File a Complaint

A complaint must be filed with the Division within one year of the alleged discriminatory act or in court within three years of the alleged discriminatory act. You can find more information on your rights, and on the procedures for filing a complaint, by going to www.dhr.ny.gov, or by calling 1-888-392-3644. You can obtain a complaint form on the website, or one can be emailed or mailed to you. You can also call or e-mail a Division regional office. The regional offices are listed on the website. 

Federal, State and local Fair Housing Laws provide comprehensive protections from discrimination in housing. It is unlawful for any property owner, landlord, property manager or other person who sells, rents or leases housing, to discriminate based on certain protected characteristics, which include, but are not limited to race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identify or expression, military status, sex, age, disability, marital status, lawful source of income or familial status. Real estate professionals must also comply with all Fair Housing Laws.

Real estate brokers and real estate salespersons, and their employees and agents violate the Law if they:

• Discriminate based on any protected characteristic when negotiating a sale, rental or lease, including representing that a property is not available when it is available.
• Negotiate discriminatory terms of sale, rental or lease, such as stating a different price because of race, national origin or other protected characteristic.
• Discriminate based on any protected characteristic because it is the preference of a seller or landlord.
• Discriminate by “steering” which occurs when a real estate professional guides prospective buyers or renters towards or away from certain neighborhoods, locations or buildings, based on any protected characteristic.
• Discriminate by “blockbusting” which occurs when a real estate professional represents that a change has occurred or may occur in future in the composition of a block, neighborhood or area, with respect to any protected characteristics, and that the change will lead to undesirable consequences for that area, such as lower property values, increase in crime, or decline in the quality of schools.
• Discriminate by pressuring a client or employee to violate the Law.
• Express any discrimination because of any protected characteristic by any statement, publication, advertisement, application, inquiry or any Fair Housing Law record.

You Have The Right To File A Complaint

If you believe you have been the victim of housing discrimination you should file a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR). Complaints may be filed by:

• Downloading a complaint form from the DHR website: www.dhr.ny.gov;
• Stop by a DHR office in person, or contact one of the Division’s offices, by telephone or by mail, to obtain a complaint form and/or other assistance in filing a complaint.  A list of office locations is available online at: https://dhr.ny.gov/contact-us, and the Fair Housing HOTLINE at (844) 862-8703.

You may also file a complaint with the NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services. Complaints may be filed by:

• Downloading a complaint form from the Department of State’s website https://www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/complaint_links.html
• Stop by a Department’s office in person, or contact one of the Department’s offices, by telephone or by mail, to obtain a complaint form.
• Call the Department at (518) 474-4429.

There is no fee charged to you for these services. It is unlawful for anyone to retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

For more information on Fair Housing Act rights and responsibilities please visit https://dhr.ny.gov/fairhousing and https://www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/fairhousing.html.