NYC's Worst Landlords Exposed: Neglect, Violations, and Tenant Frustration

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams recently released his annual "worst landlords" watchlist, highlighting dozens of property owners failing to address critical building issues. The list ranks landlords based on the number of buildings they own and the number of outstanding Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) violations.

Top 5 Offenders:

This year's top five included Barry Singer, Alfred Thompson, Karen Greer, Melanie Martin, and Claudette Henry. These landlords operate numerous residential buildings, often hidden behind hard-to-trace LLCs, and each has over a thousand open HPD violations.

Transparency and Accountability:

Williams argues the list promotes transparency for tenants, revealing the often-hidden owners behind LLCs. He criticizes Governor Kathy Hochul for weakening a bill that would have provided greater tenant access to this information. He highlights the case of Olga Camille, whose landlord, Melanie Martin, acts as a front for Daniel Ohebshalow—a repeat offender previously jailed for building mismanagement.

Tenant Testimony:

Camille describes years of neglect in her building, including heating loss, rodent infestations, and vacant, dilapidated apartments. She and her daughter live in fear and have installed security measures due to the building's condition. Eva Santos Veloz, a tenant organizer, corroborates these claims, pointing to specific examples of hazardous conditions in vacant apartments, some neglected since 2008.

Landlord Response:

While attempts to reach landlords on the list were unsuccessful, the New York Apartment Association’s CEO, Kenny Burgos, responded, criticizing the list as a distraction from broader housing policy issues and advocating for pro-housing policies to improve affordability.

Call for Action:

Veloz calls for the city to seize Ohebshalow's buildings, ensuring tenant safety and peace of mind. The situation highlights the ongoing struggle for safe and habitable housing in NYC and the need for stronger tenant protections.