Housing watchdog files court complaint against 20 landlords and agents

Alleges defendants discriminated against prospective renters with Section 8 housing vouchers.

The complaint includes several alleged text message exchanges between testers posing as prospective renters and landlords or agents representing landlords. Adobe Stock

By Jim Morrison

February 23, 2024

2 minutes to read

Housing Rights Initiative (HRI), a New York City-based nonprofit filed a complaint on Feb. 21 against 20 landlords and real estate agents alleging they discriminated against low-income prospective renters.

Specifically, the suit by the housing watchdog organization alleges the defendants illegally refused to rent properties to people with government-funded Section 8 rental vouchers.

State and federal laws make it illegal to deny a potential renter on the basis of their source of income (including Section 8 vouchers), among several other factors.

The complaint, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that between January and October 2023, undercover HRI testers “first identified public advertisements for residential apartments that complied with the Housing Choice Voucher Programs’ payment standards. Then the testers called and/or sent text messages to the listed telephone numbers.”

In tight rental markets, tenants using vouchers often face discrimination, according to HRI executive director Aaron Carr.

“The Boston Housing Authority reached out to our organization to educate us on the issue of housing voucher discrimination in Boston, which appears to be quite rampant, not just based on our investigation, but based on the annual Suffolk University reports,” he said.

The complaint includes several alleged text message exchanges between testers posing as prospective renters and landlords or agents representing landlords:

Ia Larajuli (of Harvard Ave. Realty): Hi! This is ia.
Tester: Hi Ia. This is Noelle. We spoke about #1A at 88 Browne St? I wanted to clarify if I could use my section 8 voucher at this property?
Ia Larajuli: No I’m sorry

Another exchange in the complaint allegedly between Noelle and real estate agent Mario Fiume of Anzalone Realty read:

Fiume: Hi Noelle!
It’s Mario from anzalone realty.
Would be happy to show you 8 Harris let me know when works
Noelle: Hi! Before we view the apartment, I wanted to verify that we would be able to use our section 8 voucher here?
Fiume: I will have to ask the owner. Let me check.
Noelle: Hi Mario, just wanted to follow up and see if you heard back from the owner about the section 8 voucher?
Fiume: No section 8 I am sorry

None of the 20 defendants responded to Boston.com requests for comment:

“In 2023, the average fair market rent for a two-bedroom unit in Greater Boston was more than 80% higher than the national average,” the complaint reads. “At a time when Boston’s affordable housing stock is already acutely limited, Defendants’ conduct further restricts the options available to voucher holders.”

“We want real estate companies to abandon their discriminatory practices and to follow the damn law,” Carr said. “We don’t just want to rectify a past wrong. We want to monitor them and make sure that these companies are following the law moving forward. Outside of the lawsuit, we want to create a deterrent effect. We hope that this will send a message to every real estate company in Boston and Massachusetts that if you’re discriminating against tenants with housing vouchers, the question of whether you will be caught is not a matter of if, but when.”