Fair Haven, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 59 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 59-5
Discrimination in financing of housing
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful within the Village of Fair Haven 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 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 § 59-7 .
Fair Haven, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 59 § 59-5 prohibits banks, insurance companies, loan associations, and similar lending entities operating within the Village of Fair Haven from refusing or discriminating in the terms of real estate loans based on a borrower's race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. The rule also bars lenders from basing decisions on the protected characteristics of people associated with the borrower or of current and prospective occupants of the property in question. An exception referenced in § 59-7 of the same code may limit the provision's reach in certain defined circumstances.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers in Fair Haven who work with lenders or facilitate financing for tenants or buyers should be aware that ch. 59 § 59-5 places affirmative obligations on lending institutions to evaluate loan applications without regard to protected characteristics. Compliant lenders apply uniform underwriting criteria based on financial factors rather than the race, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or similar attributes of applicants or associated parties. Landlords who refer residents to financing sources or participate in loan-related transactions may want to ensure those relationships involve institutions that follow non-discriminatory lending practices consistent with this ordinance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Fair Haven, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 59 § 59-5, tenants and prospective buyers have a right to be free from discriminatory treatment by lenders when seeking financing to purchase, construct, improve, repair, or maintain a dwelling. If a person believes a lender has denied or altered the terms of a loan based on a protected characteristic such as race, familial status, or handicap, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a local fair housing office, contacting the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or reaching out to a tenant-rights or fair housing organization for guidance. Consulting with a qualified housing attorney or legal aid organization can help clarify how § 59-5 and any applicable federal or state fair lending laws interact in a given 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 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