NJ Property Management Co. Receives 19 Violations of Housing Discrimination

Property Management Company Faces 19 Notices of Violation for Non-Compliance with Fair Chance in Housing Act

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) have announced enforcement actions against Penn Properties, LLC. The Millstone-based property management company has been issued 19 Notices of Violation for allegedly breaching New Jersey’s Fair Chance in Housing Act (FCHA) across 19 properties statewide.

“The Fair Chance in Housing Act is a groundbreaking law that provides critical protections against discrimination on the basis of prior criminal history. Nearly three years after the law was enacted, however, some housing providers and management companies in our state continue to disregard the law’s most basic requirements,” said Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights.

Penn Properties, LLC is accused of using rental applications that unlawfully inquire about prospective renters' criminal histories before making conditional housing offers. This practice violates the FCHA, which aims to prevent housing discrimination based on prior criminal records. The law, effective since January 1, 2022, prohibits such questions to promote equitable housing opportunities, especially for people of color disproportionately impacted by these practices.

“Having stable housing makes it more likely that someone can successfully reintegrate into their community after incarceration. The Fair Chance in Housing Act reflects our state’s commitment to ensuring that people have access to stable housing upon reentry,” said Attorney General Platkin.

The violations span properties in Camden, Middlesex, and Union counties. The alleged infractions include:

• Asking unlawful questions about criminal convictions and sex-related charges on rental applications.
• Inquiring about prior arrests or charges not resulting in convictions.
• Imposing application fees without required disclosures about criminal history review criteria.

Penn Properties could face significant penalties, with fines up to $1,000 for the first offense, $5,000 for the second, and $10,000 for subsequent offenses. These actions are part of DCR’s broader efforts, which have led to over 200 enforcement actions since the FCHA’s enactment.