Greystar Accused By Watchdog Of Discriminating Against Section 8 Voucher Users

A Washington, D.C.-based housing watchdog group is accusing the country’s largest apartment owner of unlawfully rejecting potential renters who hold Section 8 vouchers across six states.

The Housing Rights Initiative alleged that Greystar employees illegally refused to accept public assistance payments, known as the Housing Choice Voucher program, to help cover rents at properties in Virginia, California, Maryland, Hawaii, Michigan, New Jersey and D.C.

The nonprofit accused Greystar of a total of 114 separate violations of state fair housing laws in complaints filed with state agencies and attorneys general offices, according to a Tuesday press release. 

Greystar did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company, which operates more than 1.1 million multifamily units globally, told The New York Times that its employees are trained and are expected to abide by all applicable laws. 

“Greystar remains committed to fair housing practices in everything we do,” the company told the Times, which first reported the story.

As part of an investigation since October, Housing Rights Initiative said it tapped trained “testers” to call Greystar properties as prospective tenants and ask about using vouchers to pay rent. HRI alleged that Greystar imposed unlawful conditions on voucher use, such as requiring the vouchers cover the full rental payment, or outright refused to accept vouchers toward rental payments. 

Federal law doesn’t require housing landlords to participate in the Section 8 program, but certain state laws require landlords to accept the vouchers, according to the Times. 

“We have never encountered a landlord that operates with such brazen contempt and hostility toward the rule of law as Greystar,” HRI founder Aaron Carr said in the release. “When testers called Greystar buildings, they got the same answer over and over — no vouchers. That’s not a glitch; it’s a reprehensible business model.”

The watchdog group listed numerous examples of Greystar employees allegedly telling testers that they don't accept vouchers or don't participate in the Section 8 program. HRI has cataloged audios of its calls.

The Section 8 voucher program is the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s largest rental assistance program, aiding more than 2.2 million households and funding 2,500 public housing authorities, according to HUD. The agency has said that while voucher holders are not protected under the federal Fair Housing Act, many people who use the voucher program are members of protected classes, which are defined based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability and family status.

During its own investigation in 2018 of 4,000 voucher tests over 16 months, HUD found that 11% of landlords failed to meet with voucher holders for scheduled in-person tours.

Landlords have expressed frustration with the public voucher program in the past, including with annual inspection requirements that can result in costly repairs and have delayed landlord's ability to fill units, according to a 2021 study by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

The allegations mark the latest trouble for Greystar.

In March, Greystar settled with the federal government over allegations it utilized RealPage software to price-fix apartment rents with competitors, according to Courthouse News. Greystar also agreed in June 2025 to pay $1.4M to settle Department of Justice allegations that it illegally charged U.S. service members lease termination fees if they were given relocation orders.

Last month, The Guardian that found Greystar charged customers numerous mandatory fees that were not reflected in the listed rental rates. The company has denied those claims.