Overview
Cohen Milstein represents Housing Rights Initiative (HRI), a national housing watchdog group, in multi-state enforcement actions against Greystar Worldwide, LLC, the largest apartment manager and owner in the United States. HRI claims that extensive testing since October 2025 reveals that Greystar has systematically refused to rent to prospective tenants holding Housing Choice Vouchers (“Section 8”) in violation of state fair housing laws across six states and Washington, D.C.
On July 13, 2026, HRI filed housing discrimination complaints with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General, California Civil Rights Department, Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission, Michigan Department of Civil Rights, New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, and the DC Office of Human Rights alleging 114 violations of state fair housing laws by Greystar properties across these states.
Case Background
Since October 2025, HRI testers called Greystar properties posing as prospective tenants and asked if they could use a housing voucher to pay rent. In call after call, Greystar agents told testers that vouchers would not be accepted, imposing unlawful conditions — such as requiring the voucher to cover 100% of the rent — or refusing to count voucher assistance toward minimum income requirements, in direct violation of the law in those states.
Below are just a few examples of the alleged discrimination HRI uncovered during its investigation with links to the recorded calls:
- California: On May 11, 2026, an HRI tester called The Clara, a Greystar property at 5150 Calle Del Sol, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, regarding available apartments. The Greystar agent confirmed there were one-bedroom apartments available at $4,200 per month and talked to the tester about the apartment. The tester asked if she could use a Section 8 voucher and the agent said, “No, we don’t accept vouchers, we don’t participate in the program.”
- District of Columbia: On July 1, 2026, an HRI tester called Colette, a Greystar property at 2099 1st St SW, Washington, DC, 20024, regarding available apartments. The Greystar agent confirmed there were two-bedroom apartments available at $2,898 per month. The tester asked if Section 8 vouchers were accepted and the agent said someone would call him back. On July 2, 2026, the tester called back and spoke with an agent at the Everly, another Greystar property, who confirmed the Colette had available apartments. When the tester asked if Section 8 was accepted, the agent said, “I don’t believe we are accepting those at this time.”When the tester asked again if that meant he could not use his voucher, the agent said, “I don’t believe so, no.”
- New Jersey: On January 21, 2026, an HRI tester called One Grove, a Greystar property at 215 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302, regarding a studio apartment for $3,125 per month. The Greystar agent confirmed the apartment was available and spoke to the tester about the apartment. The tester then asked if the apartment took Section 8 vouchers, and the agent said, “We’re not allocated for that.” When the tester asked again if he could use his voucher, the agent said he needed three-times-rent income to qualify. The tester asked how the income requirement would apply to his voucher. The agent put him on hold and then eventually said, “We don’t participate in the voucher program.”
- Hawaii: On January 22, 2026, an HRI tester called Kaulana Mahina, a Greystar property at 10 Piha Poepoe Way, Wailuku, HI 96793, regarding one-bedroom apartments. The Greystar agent confirmed an apartment was available for $2,246 per month and spoke to the tester about the apartment. The tester then asked if the apartment took Section 8 vouchers, and the agent said they do not. When the tester asked again if she could use her voucher, the agent said, “We do not accept it under this certain unit.”
- Maryland: On June 10, 2026, an HRI tester called Union on Knox, a Greystar property at 4350 Knox Rd, College Park, MD 20740, regarding available apartments. The Greystar agent confirmed there were studio apartments available at $1,910 per month and talked to the tester about the apartment. The tester asked if she could use a Section 8 voucher and the agent said, “We, unfortunately, do not accept Section 8 vouchers.” The tester asked again if that meant she could not use her voucher and the agent confirmed, “No, you wouldn’t be able to use it, we can’t accept any vouchers of any kind.”
- Michigan: On April 17, 2026, a different HRI tester called Campus Village – E. Lansing, a Greystar property at 1151 Michigan Ave, East Lansing, MI, 48823 to inquire about apartments. The Greystar agent confirmed there was a four-bedroom unit available starting at $1,035 per person per month. When the tester asked if Section 8 vouchers were accepted, the agent said, “We do not support that.” When the tester asked again, the agent confirmed he could not use the voucher.
- Virginia: When an HRI tester called The Clarendon in Arlington, the agent was blunt: “We are not accepting any type of vouchers at this community.” A second tester who called the same property the same day was told, “We do not do any type of vouchers.”