Greystar Accused of Widespread Section 8 Voucher Rejections

Greystar, the nation’s largest apartment-owner, is alleged to have repeatedly denied Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers in states where state law obligates landlords to accept them. The Housing Rights Initiative filed complaints with state attorneys general after “testers” posing as prospective tenants called Greystar offices nationwide beginning in October. Testers reported that Greystar employees either flatly refused voucher use or imposed illegal requirements. The watchdog catalogued more than 100 alleged violations in Maryland, Hawaii, New Jersey, Michigan, California, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and other jurisdictions. One recorded call in College Park, Md., shows a Greystar representative telling a caller, “No, you wouldn’t be able to use it…We can’t accept any vouchers of any kind.”

New York Times

Section 8 participation is voluntary under federal law, but numerous states—including Maryland, California, and New Jersey—mandate that landlords accept the vouchers to comply with fair-housing statutes. By refusing vouchers in those states, Greystar is alleged to be violating state fair-housing laws that protect low-income renters from discrimination.

New York Times

Aaron Carr, executive director of the Housing Rights Initiative, said the pattern represents “mass civil rights violations at a scale unlike anything our organization has ever seen.” Greystar has not issued a public response within the material provided. The complaints underscore a broader tension between private-sector leasing practices and state-level fair-housing enforcement.

New York Times

• “Greystar has been committing mass civil rights violations at a scale unlike anything our organization has ever seen,” — Aaron Carr, Executive Director, Housing Rights Initiative

New York Times

• “No, you wouldn’t be able to use it,” — Greystar employee (recorded call)

New York Times

• “We can’t accept any vouchers of any kind.” — Greystar employee (recorded call)

New York Times