The New York State Division of Human Rights today announced an enforcement action in a Manhattan housing discrimination case resulting in a settlement agreement that requires a real estate company to pay a $20,000 fine to New York State and adopt new policies to protect tenants with disabilities, and to complete training to prevent future violations. This action stems from a complaint filed by the Division to enforce compliance with an earlier settlement agreement involving the same company. The original complaint alleged the real estate company violated the New York State Human Rights Law by failing to provide a reasonable accommodation for an individual living with a disability.

 

“All New Yorkers seeking to rent or buy an apartment or home deserve equal and fair treatment—and they are afforded that under our Human Rights Law,” New York State Division of Human Rights Commissioner Denise M. Miranda, Esq. said. “With the resolution of this case, I hope the message is loud and clear: If you wrongly discriminate against your tenants and violate the Human Rights Law, the Division will come after you.”

 

The real estate company and associated individuals involved in the complaint resolution announced today will remain subject to three years of semi-annual compliance review by the New York State Division of Human Rights. If the respondents do not comply with the terms of the settlement agreement, the Division may initiate further proceedings to enforce compliance and seek additional penalties.

 

The case began with a discrimination complaint filed by a member of the public living in the Lenox Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. The individual alleged that Jacin Investors Corporation N.V. violated her rights by failing to make a reasonable accommodation for her disability.

 

This original complaint was resolved by settlement less than six months after it was first filed with the Division. The terms of that settlement stated that within 90 days, the real estate company and associated individuals would redistribute their reasonable accommodations policy to all tenants, post information about the Human Rights Law in their building, and attend a fair housing training with an emphasis on disability rights.

 

Disability is a protected characteristic under the New York State Human Rights Law, and housing providers throughout the state are required to make efforts to accommodate the needs of tenants with disabilities.

 

The New York State Division of Human Rights later alleged that despite the agreement, Jacin Investment Corporation N.V. and associated individuals failed to comply with the terms of their original settlement. The Division’s renewed complaint came after Division staff had attempted to contact the real estate company and associated individuals multiple times over several months to remind them of relevant deadlines and request the necessary proof of compliance.

 

Under the new settlement announced today, the real estate company and associated individuals will pay a fine of $20,000 to New York State, cease the discriminatory treatment alleged in the Division’s complaint, adopt new policies requiring timely and transparent tenant applications for reasonable accommodations to be processed, participate in fair housing training, and prominently post information about the New York State Human Rights Law in all locations they own or manage. The settlement agreement stipulates a three-year period of semi-annual compliance reviews to be conducted by the Division. During this three-year compliance review period, the parties will be required to provide the Division with, among other materials, a complete copy of all documents pertaining to reasonable accommodation requests received by the respondents.

 

The new settlement reflects the Division’s commitment to enforcing settlement agreements and settling complaints of discrimination brought before the Division. Those who fail to comply with the terms of their settlements may be subject to renewed complaints and can face additional fines and penalties. The enforcement action taken and new settlement agreement is the result of work that spanned the Division’s Housing Investigations Unit, Division-Initiated Action Unit, and Prosecutions Unit.

 

This enforcement action by the Division and the resulting settlement help to make New York City and New York State a fairer place for all tenants. The Division remains committed to fighting housing discrimination in every region of our state. 

 

The New York State Division of Human Rights is dedicated to eliminating discrimination, remedying injustice, and promoting equal opportunity, access, and dignity.

 

Anyone who believes they have experienced discrimination can report it to the Division. If it is under the Division’s authority and jurisdiction, Division staff will investigate. Throughout this process, the Division is a neutral factfinder representing the State—not functioning as an advocate or attorney on behalf of either complainants or respondents. All of the Division’s procedures are conducted free of charge, and members of the public are not required to have an attorney to file a complaint.

 

The Division’s work shows that New York State will make violators of the law pay. During the Division’s 2025 Fiscal Year, the agency awarded more than $10 million in compensation to those who experienced discrimination. The Division can also order a wide range of additional remedies—including, for example, reinstatement to a job; back pay with interest and benefits; changes in organizational policies; and a variety of other forms of compensation and remediation.

 

The Division of Human Rights is also empowered by law to investigate and file complaints in cases of systematic patterns of discrimination through its Division Initiated Action Unit (DIAU). The DIAU can, upon its own motion, initiate investigations and file complaints alleging violations of the state anti-discrimination law.

 

New Yorkers experiencing harassment or discrimination are encouraged to report it to the Division—we may be able to help you file a formal complaint. If you experience any form of hate or bias in NYS, please call 844-NO-2-HATE or use our online submission form for assistance. For more information about the law or to file a complaint, please visit dhr.ny.gov, and follow the Division of Human Rights on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, X, and YouTube.