Real Estate

Lawsuit Filed Vs. Dozens Of Landlords In Newark, Jersey City: Report

The landlords allegedly refused to rent apartments to people who use federal vouchers, including Section 8 funding, a report says.

NEWARK, NJ — A nonprofit advocacy group filed a lawsuit against more than two dozen landlords and brokers in Newark and Jersey City on Wednesday, a report says.

The Housing Rights Initiative in New York City is alleging that 26 landlords and brokers refused to rent apartments to people who rely on federal vouchers, in violation of New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination, the New Jersey Monitor reported. Read the full article here.

By law, all rental properties in New Jersey – with a few exceptions – must be accessible to people who use government-subsidized vouchers, including Section 8 funding. Landlords and property managers cannot refuse to rent units to potential tenants because they would pay with a Section 8 housing voucher or other public assistance, for example. It is also illegal to advertise that applicants relying on Section 8 assistance will be rejected.

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