NYS Announces Campaign To Run Statewide 'Stings' Using Undercover Fair Housing 'Testers' Posing As Renters, Home Buyers To Bag Discriminating Landlords, Real Estate Brokers & Sellers

In Albany, New York, the New York Daily News reports:

• Gov. Cuomo [] announced a new state undercover program designed to root out discrimination in home rental and sales.
  
  "Discrimination in housing is not just immoral, it's not just wrong, it's not just unethical, it's also illegal," Cuomo told parishioners at Convent Avenue Baptist Church in Harlem. "We haven't been aggressive in enforcing the law in the past."
  
  Dubbed the Fair Housing Enforcement Program, trained "testers" will pose as potential renters or home buyers in order to uncover potential discriminatory bias amongst sellers and landlords.
  
  The testers, which will come from three fair housing agencies hired by the state, will be of different racial, gender and economic backgrounds. Some will be persons with disabilities.
  
  The treatment the testers receive will be documented and the results analyzed.
  
  Real estate agents, brokers, and landlords believed to be engaging in discrimination will be investigated and prosecuted if violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and state Human Rights law are found.
  
  "We want to show this state that we are not going to tolerate anti-discrimination of anyone by our deed," Cuomo said.

For more, see Gov. Cuomo announces undercover program to root out housing discrimination.

For the position of the New York State Association of Realtors on this development, see New York State’s REALTORS support Gov. Cuomo’s focus on Fair Housing for all.