Public Advocate Letitia James released the Worst Landlords Watchlist” on Wednesday. Photo credit: Getty Images
Public Advocate Letitia James released an updated list of the city’s least trustworthy landlords on Wednesday.
The Worst Landlords Watchlist can be found online at http://landlordwatchlist.com, and uses data from theDepartment of Housing Preservation and Development to identify the culprits. This year’s list had 6,800 buildings as of the launch, and the updated list includes photos of the buildings, and the ability to search by borough.
The worst offender is a Bronx building at 940 Grand Concourse with 660 violations in 2014, according to the list.
In order to be included on the list, buildings with less than 35 units must have an average of three “open, serious violations,” according to the public advocate’s office. For buildings with more than 35 units, there must be more than two violations.
“Today, too many New Yorkers— specifically those living in low-income communities— rent in substandard buildings run by landlords and management agencies that are too lax with basic repairs and upgrades,” James said in a media release. “I am proud to re-launch the Worst Landlord Watchlist as a tool to highlight our city’s worst offenders, and to help focus the resources of my office and the housing advocacy organizations we partner with. I want to increase access to assistance for landlords who need emergency intervention, but for those landlords who would put income before the health and safety of tenants, my office will continue to monitor and bring forth legal action when necessary.”
The list was first created by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2010 when he served as public advocate.
