New Jersey Real Estate Agency Settles Alleged Housing Discrimination Cases

Lina PortmanJune 8, 2024

0 2 minutes read

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

Announced today by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, the cases indicate that agents at Coldwell Banker Realty's Hoboken, Jersey City and Upper Montclair offices violated New Jersey's Anti-Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on how a tenant would pay their rent.

In each of the four cases, testers employed by the nonprofit housing group Housing Rights Initiative responded to listings for properties listed for rental in Jersey City and Hackensack by Coldwell Banker Realty. The organization filed suit after these testers revealed they would use Section 8 vouchers to pay rent, and officers told them 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 to the use of Section 8 vouchers, indicating that they would check with the owner. After follow-up “, the tester was informed that the owner 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 the property 'was not listed under Section 8, it was not approved for that,' and told the tester: ' Don’t waste my time.”

As part of the settlement, Coldwell Banker Realty agreed to pay a total of $40,000 in penalties to the Civil Rights Division, or $10,000 for each alleged violation. With the Housing Rights Initiative, the real estate agency also agreed to refrain from discrimination based on the source of legal income; providing fair housing training to employees; and provide competent voucher staff to assist all agents in processing housing vouchers.

“We are pleased to have reached a mutually acceptable resolution in this matter. Our company has a long history of championing 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.

Lina Portman

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