NJ agency serves violation notices to 25 landlords accused of discriminating against applicants over criminal records

SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey officials said the state issued notices to more than two dozen landlords claiming they violated a state policy that prevents them from asking about a person’s criminal history on rental applications.

Notices of violation went out to 25 landlords, including some in Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties, for allegedly not complying with the Fair Chance Housing Act. The law prohibits an application from saying those with criminal records would not be considered for housing.

Attorney General Matt Platkin said a criminal background does not automatically disqualify someone from renting an apartment, and stable housing is a necessity for someone trying to return to the community.

Platkin said his office found various types of violations, including online listings using prohibited language like “no criminal history.”

There are some exceptions, though. Landlords can ask about people who are required to be on the sex offender registry and those convicted of manufacturing meth. Under the law, a conditional offer must first be extended to everyone else before doing a criminal background check, and landlords must present valid explanations to formally withdraw the offer.

A first offense is punishable by a $1,000 fine. It goes up to $5,000 and then $10,000 for subsequent offenses.

So far, there have been more than 200 violations since the law took effect in 2022.