NJ attorney general renews housing discrimination enforcement, details actions on criminal history, income and redlining
TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced a renewed focus on enforcing housing discrimination laws, citing actions in 25 cases involving criminal history, source of lawful income discrimination and mortgage redlining.
The Office of the Attorney General and the Division on Civil Rights said the initiative aims to expand housing access and address affordability across the state during Fair Housing Month.
“Access to affordable, safe housing is out of reach for too many New Jerseyans. We will use every enforcement tool at our disposal to confront this affordability crisis and expand housing opportunity for all New Jerseyans – and that includes taking on housing discrimination whenever it puts homeownership or rental housing out of reach for New Jerseyans,” said Attorney General Davenport. “With the federal government backing away from enforcing our civil rights laws and combating housing discrimination, it is more important than ever that states lead the charge in addressing predatory practices. Today’s enforcement actions underscore our renewed commitment to expanding housing opportunity and taking on discriminatory practices that make housing less affordable.”
“Many New Jerseyans rely on rental assistance programs like Section 8 to acquire affordable housing. Having a history with the criminal legal system cannot automatically bar you from having fair access to housing. And race should never be a determining factor of whether someone can get a mortgage,” said Yolanda N. Melville, director of the Division on Civil Rights. “We are committed to enforcing the protections offered by our civil rights laws because safe, affordable housing is a necessity, not a privilege.”
Fair Chance in Housing Act Enforcement Actions
Following investigations, DCR issued Notices of Violation and final orders against 14 housing providers for violating the Fair Chance in Housing Act, which prohibits certain criminal history inquiries in housing applications and advertising.
Officials said the violations included asking prohibited questions and maintaining noncompliant policies. Penalties ranging from $500 to $1,000 were assessed, and providers were ordered to cease violations.
The cases involved properties in municipalities including Blackwood, East Orange, Lakewood, Mays Landing, Newark, New Brunswick, Rahway, Somerset and Williamstown.
Source of Lawful Income Enforcement Actions
In 11 additional cases, DCR issued findings of probable cause alleging violations of the Law Against Discrimination related to source of lawful income, including denial of housing to applicants using rental assistance such as Section 8 vouchers.
The alleged violations involve properties in East Orange, Hackensack, Jersey City, Newark, Paterson and Tuckerton.
Seven complaints were filed by the Housing Rights Initiative, a nonprofit group that conducts testing to identify discrimination, while four were filed by individuals alleging they were denied housing due to voucher use.
Officials said findings of probable cause do not represent final determinations. Cases will move to conciliation, where parties may seek voluntary resolution before potential legal action.
Mortgage Redlining Enforcement
State officials also announced continued enforcement of a major mortgage redlining settlement involving Trident Mortgage LP and Fox & Roach LP.
New Jersey, along with Delaware and Pennsylvania, secured amendments to a 2022 agreement to ensure compliance after federal regulators terminated a related consent order in 2025.
Under the settlement, the companies are required to provide $18.4 million in loan subsidies and other relief to residents through 2027. Officials said the amended agreement ensures that relief will be delivered despite the federal government’s withdrawal from the case.
The announcement follows other recent actions by the attorney general’s office aimed at addressing housing affordability, including guidance on rental application fee limits and advocacy at the federal level.
