LOS ANGELES, CA – On November 22, 2024, ECBAWM filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of a tenant, alleging that Essex Property Trust, Inc. refused to allow her to apply to renew her lease at an apartment building in Long Beach, California using her Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher.  As alleged in the suit, Essex’s refusal to consider the tenant’s Housing Choice Voucher violated California’s fair housing laws, which explicitly prohibit landlords from discriminating on the basis of a tenant’s lawful source of income.

“When large corporate landlords like Essex ignore California law and refuse to consider a tenant applicant’s Section 8 voucher as a source of income, they close the door to low-income renters, who are already struggling to find affordable housing in the Los Angeles area,” said ECBAWM Nick Bourland.  “This suit seeks to hold Essex accountable for its flagrant violation of our client’s fair housing rights and to ensure that future Essex tenants are not turned away based on their source of income.”

The plaintiff is represented by ECBAWM attorneys Nick Bourland and Vasudha Talla.