New York Attorney General Letitia James has reached a settlement with Montgomery County property owner Cesar Sosa and his companies following an investigation into discriminatory practices against low-income renters. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Sosa, who owns or manages 57 residential buildings in Amsterdam, New York, violated state fair housing and human rights laws by refusing to rent to tenants using Section 8 housing vouchers. The investigation revealed that Sosa blocked voucher holders from applying for apartments, falsely claimed his properties were not approved for voucher use, and engaged in other forms of discrimination.
Under the terms of the settlement, Sosa is required to stop all discriminatory practices and reserve five units specifically for tenants who use housing vouchers. He must also pay a $3,000 penalty and display signs at all rental properties as well as language on online listings indicating his companies are Equal Housing Opportunity Providers.
“All renters deserve fair access to affordable housing regardless of their financial status,” said Attorney General James. “Cesar Sosa’s unlawful and discriminatory practices denied hardworking New Yorkers the chance to find a safe place to live. My office will always fight for the rights of renters across this state and stop discriminatory practices that worsen our housing crisis.”
The OAG began its investigation after being alerted in April 2025 about online listings stating that potential tenants could not use any form of housing assistance at Sosa’s properties. In May, when contacted by a prospective tenant about using vouchers, Sosa responded incorrectly that his buildings were “not approved for Section 8.” The OAG documented repeated instances of similar conduct across multiple properties.
As part of the agreement, Sosa must provide guaranteed renewal leases of at least one year for the five reserved units and implement an outreach program to inform subsidy holders about available apartments. He and his employees are also required to undergo training on fair housing and human rights laws with an OAG-approved trainer. Failure to comply with the settlement terms could result in additional penalties up to $6,000.
Attorney General James has taken several actions over recent years aimed at preventing discrimination against low-income renters in New York State. Previous settlements have included agreements with property owners in various regions as well as enforcement actions against real estate companies accused of denying housing opportunities based on income source.
This case was managed by Assistant Attorney General Christopher Lee along with civil investigators Stephanie Brideau and Adrienne DeGaetano. Oversight was provided by Assistant Attorney General Vinita Kamath from the Poughkeepsie Regional Office within the Division of Regional Affairs led by Deputy Attorney General Jill Faber.
