NJ real estate agency settles in four alleged Section 8 housing discrimination cases

The New Jersey Division of Civil Rights has reached a settlement in four alleged housing discrimination cases against a local real estate agency.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said the cases stated that agents from Coldwell Banker Realty offices in Hoboken, Jersey City and Upper Montclair violated the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, which prohibits housing discrimination based on how a tenant would pay their rent.

In each of the four cases, testers employed by nonprofit housing group Housing Rights Initiative responded to advertisements for properties listed for rent in Jersey City and Hackensack by Coldwell Banker Realty. The organization filed complaints after these testers had disclosed that they would use Section 8 vouchers for rent payment, and the agents told them that they would not accept them.

"In three of the four cases, the verified complaints alleged that a Coldwell agent or broker did not respond immediately on the use of Section 8 vouchers, indicating that they would check with the landlord. Upon follow-up, the tester was informed that the landlord refused to accept a Section 8 voucher," a press release detailing the announcement said. "In the fourth case, the verified complaint alleged that the agent immediately informed the tester that property is 'not signed up for Section 8, it's not approved for that,' and told the tester, 'don't waste my time.' "

In the settlement, Coldwell Banker Realty has agreed to pay a total of $40,000 in penalties to the Division of Civil Rights, or $10,000 for each alleged violation. With Housing Rights Initiative, the real estate agency has also agreed to refrain from discriminating based on the source of lawful income; to provide fair-housing training for employees; and to make voucher-knowledgeable staff available to assist all agents with processing housing vouchers.

"We are pleased to have reached a mutually agreeable settlement in this matter. Our company has a long track record of advocating for fair housing practices, and we welcome these enhanced training, awareness, and staffing measures to further promote equitable access to housing for all," said a spokesperson for Coldwell Banker Realty.

"We are standing up for New Jerseyans and their right to access housing using government rental assistance," Platkin said. "The settlements ... send a clear message: If you impede or hinder that access, we will hold you accountable. The Law Against Discrimination is one of the strongest civil rights laws in the country, and we are not afraid to use it."

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ real estate agency settles in alleged housing discrimination cases