The Housing Rights Initiative, a nonprofit watchdog organization, has filed multiple complaints with the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights for alleged fair housing violations by Greystar, the nation’s largest apartment manager and owner.
The filing is part of a multi-state action, with a total of 114 complaints filed in six states and Washington, D.C., accusing the company of systematically refusing to rent to prospective tenants who hold Section 8 housing vouchers.
“Greystar is violating civil rights on a scale our organization has never seen before,” said Aaron Carr, founder and executive director of the Housing Rights Initiative. “We have never encountered a landlord that operates with such brazen contempt and hostility toward the rule of law as Greystar. The largest landlord in America is the most discriminatory landlord in America.”
In response to the claims, Greystar said in a statement that it is “committed to fair housing practices.” The company also said it “provides training and expects our team members to follow all applicable laws.”
The complaints were filed following a series of undercover actions beginning in October 2025, where testers from the Housing Rights Initiative called Greystar properties as potential tenants.
These testers asked leasing agents at the properties if they could use Section 8 housing vouchers to pay rent. The complaints allege that Greystar leasing agents repeatedly refused to accept the vouchers, imposed unlawful conditions – such as requiring the vouchers to cover 100% of the rent – or refused to count voucher assistance toward minimum income requirements.
This is a direct violation of fair housing laws in all seven jurisdictions, the Housing Rights Initiative said, and highlights the need for stronger enforcement from state civil rights and housing agencies.
According to Greystar’s website, Greystar manages more than 1.1 million units nationwide.
The Housing Rights Initiative stated that its investigation of Greystar is ongoing, and that additional fair housing violations may be added to the public record as the trial continues.
“Our investigation into Greystar shows that its discriminatory practices are part of a much larger pattern of sources of income discrimination in housing markets across the country,” said Akash Patel, program development director of the Housing Rights Initiative. “Fair and equitable housing practices are vital to the stability of society, and continuing discrimination further harms our most vulnerable neighbors.”
Maddie McGehee is a real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record. This article was originally published on NorthJersey.com.