Westchester Landlord Settles Section 8 Discrimination Case

The seemingly endless well of housing voucher discrimination cases in New York has produced another six-figure settlement.

New Rochelle-based Platzner International Group will pay $105,000 in damages after settling a housing discrimination case with the state, the Rockland/Westchester Journal News reported.

The Westchester County company also agreed to set aside 20 units for prospective tenants using housing vouchers and to waive broker fees for such tenants for five years.

White Plains-based nonprofit Westchester Residential Opportunities blew the whistle on Platzner, prompting Attorney General Letitia James’ office to launch an investigation in 2021. The probe discovered what James called a company policy explicitly barring the use of Section 8 housing vouchers at some residential properties.

Apartment listings themselves appeared to discriminate against apartment hunters bearing housing subsidies, and one fair housing representative was similarly discouraged when raising the possibility of using a voucher.

James’ investigation found other problems, too. The company’s rental applications asked about sex and marital status, a possible violation of fair housing laws. Additionally, the $50 rental application fee charged by Platzner was more than double the legal limit in the state.

“This settlement should remind housing providers of their equal housing obligations and help to increase housing opportunities for voucher holders,” Westchester Residential Opportunities executive director Marlene Zarfas told the publication.

Platzner’s portfolio includes more than 200 units across four mixed-use complexes and 14 residential complexes primarily in New Rochelle, Rye and Pelham Manor.

James’ office has been pursuing landlords suspected of discrimination, leading to settlements. Last year, Compass reached an agreement with the attorney general over allegations of voucher discrimination a few months after the brokerage settled a suit brought by Housing Rights Initiative, a watchdog group.

Other fair housing groups are also taking matters into their own hands. Last week, a landlord on Long Island settled with Long Island Housing Services regarding alleged discrimination against someone trying to use unemployment benefits to pay rent.

— Holden Walter-Warner