NJ Attorney General Acts on Ten Cases of Housing Discrimination Across Seven Counties

New Jersey’s Attorney General, Matthew J. Platkin, intensifies efforts to combat discrimination against tenants receiving rental assistance, with enforcement actions announced across seven counties.

NEW JERSEY - Today, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin declared that the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) has found probable cause in ten new cases of alleged housing discrimination. These findings are part of ongoing efforts to uphold the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), which protects potential tenants from being denied housing based on their source of lawful income, including government or third-party rental assistance.

“We are dedicated to protecting New Jerseyans’ right to use government rental assistance to access affordable housing,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Refusing to rent to or otherwise discouraging applicants from renting because they receive rental assistance violators the Law Against Discrimination. The enforcement actions announced today demonstrate our continued efforts to protect our residents by holding violator accountable.”

The ten cases, spanning Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Ocean, and Union counties, involve landlords and property managers who reportedly denied rental opportunities to applicants due to their reliance on rental assistance. In some instances, landlords also refused to complete necessary documentation for tenants to secure rental assistance.

“Throughout 2024, fighting housing discrimination has been one of DCR’s core priorities. That’s why we are continuing our work across the state to hold housing providers accountable for discriminating against tenants in violation of our civil rights laws,” said Sundeep Iyer, Director of the Division on Civil Rights. “Rental assistance plays a critical role in enabling many New Jerseyans to access safe, stable housing. Our laws make clear that discrimination against recipients of rental assistance has no place in New Jersey, and we remain committed to enforcing those protections.”

One notable case involved a housing provider in Mount Laurel who ceased communication with a prospective tenant after learning she had an emotional support animal (ESA) and would be using rental assistance. The provider initially withdrew the rental listing from Zillow.com, citing plans for updates, only to continue advertising on Apartmentguide.com and mislead another potential renter about the availability of the unit.

Similarly, in Somerdale, property owners broke off communication with an applicant upon discovering their intent to use rental assistance. They later misrepresented the availability of the property to the same applicant under a different contact number, explicitly stating they would not accept rental assistance.

Other cases highlighted misunderstandings or outright refusals by landlords to engage with the Section 8 Housing Program, with some wrongly claiming their properties were ineligible for the program or that they were not required to accept Section 8 vouchers.

The issuance of these Findings of Probable Cause by the DCR does not conclude the legal process but indicates that preliminary investigations support a reasonable suspicion of LAD violations. These cases will now move to conciliation, where parties have the chance to resolve issues voluntarily. If conciliation fails, the matters may be escalated to legal proceedings, with a Deputy Attorney General prosecuting in either Superior Court or the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law.

These enforcement actions underscore New Jersey’s commitment to ensuring fair housing practices and equal treatment for all tenants, irrespective of their financial assistance sources. Attorney General Platkin emphasized the state's dedication to rooting out discriminatory practices and maintaining an equitable housing market for its diverse population.