Woman Denied Apartment Because of Housing Voucher Joins FHJC to Sue Agent, Landlord

Despite clear laws to the contrary, landlords and real estate agents throughout New York City continue to unlawfully reject applicants because they intend to pay for their apartment with a voucher. KLLF is now suing a landlord and broker who, we allege, engaged in egregious and explicit discrimination.

Last summer, when Diara Walker tried to rent a Brooklyn apartment owned and managed by Duke Properties, the broker from TorsX Inc. told her in writing, “no vouchers im [sic] sorry.” Ms. Walker complained to the Fair Housing Justice Center, which ran tests on two other Duke-managed properties for which TorsX was the broker; both testers were told that vouchers were not accepted. Because such an exclusionary policy violates New York State and City fair housing laws, Ms. Walker and the FHJC are together suing Duke Properties, TorsX, and the individual agent who made the discriminatory comments.

Alanna Kaufman and Ali Frick represent Ms. Walker and the FHJC.