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  Government Action: BBB reports on known government actions involving business’ marketplace conduct:

  NY AG Stops Westchester Real Estate Company from Discriminating Against Low-Income Renters
  

  The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.

  On 10/10/2023, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced an agreement with real estate company and property manager, Platzner International Group (PIG), its owners Merrick Platzner and Harrin Platzner, and their various properties for denying housing to low-income residents in Westchester County. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG), with assistance from the Housing Rights Initiative (HRI), found that PIG violated federal, state, and local fair housing laws by denying housing to low-income New Yorkers with Section 8 Housing Choice vouchers. As a result of an agreement with OAG and a separate settlement with Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO), a local fair housing group who brought their own litigation against PIG for their discriminatory behavior, PIG must set aside 20 units in its portfolio for applicants using Section 8 vouchers or other housing subsidies. PIG must also waive broker fees for any prospective tenant using housing subsidies for the next five years and pay $10,000 to HRI and $95,000 to WRO in damages.
  
  PIG and its related entities own more than 200 residential units across four multi-building complexes and are property managers for an additional 14 residential complexes primarily in Pelham Manor, New Rochelle, and Rye. In November 2021, OAG launched an investigation into PIG based on undercover testing done by HRI that revealed PIG had an explicit policy of refusing to rent units to Section 8 voucher holders in certain buildings. Apartment listings from PIG entities stated, “Sorry, NO section 8,” and a representative from HRI was told that PIG “does not take Section 8” at one of their buildings.
  
  The OAG investigation also found that PIG asked illegal questions to prospective tenants on their rental applications, inquiring about potential tenant’s sex and marital status, a violation of New York’s Human Rights Law and federal fair housing law. In addition, the OAG investigation found that PIG claimed in their rental application that the application fee was as high as $50, a violation of New York state law which mandates they do not exceed $20.
  
  As part of an agreement with OAG, PIG will pay $10,000 for HRI’s damages and $95,000 in damages to WRO in their litigation. PIG will also implement an antidiscrimination policy that conforms with federal, state, and local housing laws, and explicitly include in all rental listings that Section 8 vouchers will be accepted. They will also be required to set aside 20 units for tenants holding government housing subsidies like the Section 8 Housing Choice voucher. In addition, the Platzners, their staff, and partners will have to undergo mandatory training on relevant federal, state, and local fair housing laws and be subject to random compliance testing.

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