Rensselaer, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 95 § 95-4
Discrimination in financing
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful within the City of Rensselaer 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 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 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 § 95-6 .
Rensselaer, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 95 § 95-4 prohibits financial institutions — including banks, loan associations, and insurance companies — from denying or imposing discriminatory terms on real estate loans based on protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. The rule covers not only the applicant's own characteristics but also those of people associated with the loan or the current and prospective occupants of the property in question. An exception outlined in § 95-6 of the same code is preserved and not affected by this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who work with lenders on financing for dwellings in Rensselaer should be aware that under ch. 95 § 95-4, the financial institutions they engage with are prohibited from making loan decisions or setting loan terms based on the protected characteristics of any party connected to the transaction. Compliant lenders evaluate applications on permissible financial criteria rather than on race, religion, sex, familial status, handicap, or national origin. Operators who suspect a financing partner is engaging in discriminatory practices may wish to consult the relevant fair-housing resources available at the local or state level.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Rensselaer, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 95 § 95-4, tenants and prospective occupants have a stake in this rule because a lender may not use the characteristics of current or future residents — such as their race, religion, or national origin — as a basis for denying or conditioning a real estate loan. If a person believes a financial institution has violated this provision, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a fair-housing agency, raising the violation through local municipal channels, or reaching out to a tenant-rights or fair-housing organization for guidance. The exception in § 95-6 of the same code may be relevant depending on the circumstances of a particular situation.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation