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 largest apartment manager and owner in the nation.
The filings are part of a multi-state action, with 114 total complaints made across six states and Washington, D.C., that accuse the company of systematically refusing to rent to prospective tenants holding Section 8 housing vouchers.
“Greystar has been committing mass civil rights violations at a scale unlike anything our organization has ever seen,” said Aaron Carr, founder and executive director of 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 “remains committed to fair housing practices.” The company also said that it “provides training and expects our team members to comply with all applicable laws.”
The complaints were filed after a series of undercover actions that started in October 2025, where testers from the Housing Rights Initiative called Greystar properties posing as prospective tenants.
These testers asked leasing agents at the properties if they could use a Section 8 housing voucher to pay rent. The complaints allege that Greystar leasing agents repeatedly refused to accept vouchers, imposed unlawful conditions — like requiring the voucher 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, Housing Rights Initiative said, and highlights the need for strong enforcement from state civil rights and housing agencies.
Greystar manages more than 1.1 million units across the country, according to Greystar’s website.
Housing Rights Initiative said that its investigation of Greystar is ongoing, and additional fair housing violations may be added to the public record as testing continues.
“Our investigation into Greystar revealed that its discriminatory practices are a part of a much larger pattern of source of income discrimination across housing markets, nationwide,” said Akash Patel, program development director for Housing Rights Initiative. “Fair and equitable housing practices are critical to the stability of society, and allowing discrimination to continue leaves our most vulnerable neighbors at an even greater disadvantage.”
Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com.
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