Starting January 1, 2025, New York City has new housing protections for people with past criminal convictions.
Most landlords and realtors must follow a "Fair Chance process". This means they first have to review all the other parts of your application before checking your conviction history. They must also give you time to fix mistakes or give evidence of your rehabilitation.
The law says that landlords or realtors can only consider certain recent felonies and misdemeanors. The landlord or realtor must also explain in writing if they reject you based on your conviction history. (New York State law already makes it illegal to ask about sealed or dismissed cases.)
If a housing provider doesn't follow these rules after January 1, 2025, call the Legal Action Center for help at (212) 243-1313.
Last Reviewed: May 7, 2025