Geneva, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 158 § 158-6
Retaliation, harassment or coercion
Operative Text
A. It is an unfair practice under this chapter for any person to: (1) Aid, abet, incite, compel, or coerce the doing of any act defined in this chapter as an unfair practice; or to intimidate, harass, retaliate, obstruct or discriminate against a person in any manner because such person has complied with or proposes to comply with provisions of this chapter or has filed a charge or complaint, has testified, or has assisted in any proceeding under this chapter, or any order issued thereunder; or to attempt, either directly or indirectly, to commit any act defined in this chapter to be an unfair practice; or to apply any economic sanctions or to deny membership privileges because of compliance with the provisions of this chapter; or (2) Coerce, intimidate, threaten, or otherwise interfere with any person in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of his or her having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of his or her having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of any right granted or protected under this chapter. B. Any unfair practice under this section which has the purpose or effect of denying a person the right to be free from discrimination in real estate practices or the right to quiet or peaceful possession or enjoyment of real property, interfering with a person's compliance with the provisions of this chapter prohibiting unfair real estate practices, or interfering with a person's filing of a charge or assisting in any proceeding relating to an unfair real estate practice under this chapter, is an unfair real estate practice.
Geneva, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 158 § 158-6 prohibits any person from retaliating against, harassing, coercing, or intimidating someone because that person exercised rights under the chapter, filed a complaint, or participated in a related proceeding. It also bars anyone from aiding or encouraging others to commit these prohibited acts. When such conduct has the effect of denying someone the right to be free from housing discrimination or peaceful enjoyment of their property, it constitutes an unfair real estate practice under the chapter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Geneva, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 158 § 158-6, compliant property owners and managers refrain from any action that could be construed as retaliation or intimidation toward a tenant who has filed a complaint, cooperated in a proceeding, or otherwise exercised rights under the chapter. This includes avoiding economic pressure, threats, or changes in tenancy terms that follow closely on the heels of a tenant's protected activity. Operators generally document the legitimate, non-retaliatory business reasons behind any adverse housing decisions to demonstrate that their actions are unrelated to a tenant's protected conduct.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Geneva, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 158 § 158-6 protects tenants from retaliation, harassment, coercion, or intimidation by any person after they have exercised rights under the chapter, filed a complaint, or assisted in a proceeding. If a tenant believes they have experienced such conduct, general enforcement paths include filing a charge with the appropriate local body that administers ch. 158, raising the violation as a defense in any related housing proceeding, or consulting a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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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