Niskayuna, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 140 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 140-4
Discrimination in financing of housing
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful within the Town of Niskayuna 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, 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, national origin, handicap, or familial status 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 of the present or prospective owners, lessees, tenants, or occupants of the dwelling or dwellings 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 § 140-6 .
Section 140-4 of Niskayuna's Code of Ordinances prohibits financial institutions—including banks, loan associations, and insurance companies—from denying or altering the terms of real estate loans based on a borrower's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or familial status. The rule also bars discrimination tied to the characteristics of people associated with the loan or the current and future occupants of the property in question. An exception referenced in § 140-6 of the same code is preserved and not affected by this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers in Niskayuna who work with lenders on financing for purchasing, constructing, repairing, or maintaining dwellings should be aware that § 140-4 prohibits lenders from varying loan terms based on protected characteristics of borrowers, associated parties, or occupants. Compliant lenders evaluate applications on neutral, non-discriminatory financial criteria. Landlords who believe a financing decision affecting their property was influenced by protected characteristics of tenants or occupants may have grounds to raise a concern under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 140-4 of Niskayuna's Code of Ordinances, tenants and prospective occupants are protected from being used as a basis for a lender to deny or alter the terms of a real estate loan—meaning a lender cannot cite the characteristics of a building's residents to justify discriminatory financing decisions. If a tenant believes that their race, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, familial status, or similar characteristic contributed to a discriminatory lending outcome affecting their housing, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a local or state fair housing agency or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with fair lending law. The exception in § 140-6 of the same code may be relevant depending on the circumstances.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation