The Fair Housing Justice Center (FHJC) announced today that it has reached a settlement in its 2023 source of income discrimination lawsuit against New York City real estate agency Bohemia Realty Group LLC and various New York City property managers including Coltown Properties LLC, and Beach Lane Management, Inc..

The complaint arose from an FHJC investigation in which FHJC testers who contacted real estate agents to inquire about apartment listings were treated differently based on whether they claimed to be using housing vouchers to pay their rent.

While denying the allegations, the defendants agreed to pay $540,000 in damages and will participate in extensive injunctive relief, including:

• Refraining from discrimination on the basis of race, color, lawful source of income and/or family status
• Applying neutral policies, procedures, and rules to all rental applicants
• Prominently displaying fair housing posters from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the New York State Division of Licensing Services, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the New York City Commission on Human Rights in their offices
• Including fair housing logos and/or language in all advertisements and in print materials
• Fair housing training for all employees, independent contractors and agents who have any contact with potential tenants at the properties at issue

The settlement was so-ordered by the Court on April 20, 2026 and can be read HERE.

“Discrimination based on source of income is unacceptable,” stated FHJC Legal Director David Berman.  “The FHJC will continue to conduct testing and pursue litigation where evidence suggests that voucher or subsidy holders are being treated differently.”

The FHJC was represented by Mariann Wang and Eric Hecker with the law firm Wang Hecker LLP.

The mission of FHJC, a nonprofit civil rights organization, is to eliminate housing discrimination; promote policies and programs that foster open, accessible, and inclusive communities; and strengthen enforcement of fair housing laws in the New York City region.