Cohoes, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 148 § 148-7
Discrimination in the financing of housing
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful within the City of Cohoes for any bank, building and loan association, insurance company or other corporation, association, firm or enterprise whose business consists in whole or in part in the making of commercial real estate loans to deny a loan or other financial assistance to a person applying therefor for the purpose of purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing or maintaining a dwelling or to discriminate against him in the fixing of the amount, interest rate, duration or other terms or conditions of such loan or other financial assistance because of the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin of such person or of any person associated with him in connection with such loan or other financial assistance or the purposes of such loan or other financial assistance or the present or prospective owners, lessees, tenants or occupants of the dwelling or dwelling in relation to which such loan or other financial assistance is to be made or given, provided that nothing contained in this section shall impair the scope or effectiveness of the exception contained in § 148-9 .
Section 148-7 of the Cohoes Code of Ordinances prohibits lenders—including banks, building and loan associations, insurance companies, and similar financial enterprises—from denying or discriminating in the terms of real estate loans based on protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. The rule applies when the loan is sought for purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a dwelling. Discrimination based on the characteristics of people associated with the applicant, or of current or prospective occupants of the property, is also prohibited under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners in Cohoes who seek financing for residential real estate should be aware that under § 148-7, lenders operating in the city are prohibited from varying loan terms—such as amount, interest rate, or duration—based on protected characteristics of the applicant or anyone associated with the transaction. Compliant lenders evaluate applications on neutral, non-discriminatory criteria. Landlords who believe a financing decision was influenced by protected characteristics of their tenants or prospective occupants may have grounds to raise a concern under this ordinance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 148-7 of the Cohoes Code of Ordinances extends fair-lending protections to tenants and prospective occupants, meaning a lender cannot use the characteristics of a building's current or future residents as a basis for denying or altering loan terms. Tenants who believe discriminatory lending practices have affected housing available to them may consider filing a complaint with a local or state civil rights agency, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization familiar with fair housing law. Reviewing § 148-9, which the provision references as a related exception, may also provide useful context when evaluating a potential concern.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation