Posted by MikeW on March 10, 1998 at 14:53:06:
In Reply to: L.L. Defies Law, Gov't Agencies Not Interested posted by Nancy Bernardi on March 09, 1998 at 20:12:49:
On you own, you can't really do much if the agencies won't cooperate. It sounds like you need a tenants association, possibly to organize a rent strike. I would also get in touch with, and try to organize tenants in his other buildings also.
: Dear TenantNet:
: Ten years ago the Bronx building in which I've lived for 19 years
: was bought by a man who openly, and repeatedly, ignores and defies
: the law, and gets away with it. He owns at least 10 buildings in the
: Bronx, listed under several variations on his and his wife's names,
: although his office and home are in Queens.
: During the past year or so I've become aware of 2 tenant actions
: against him for rent overcharges (double the previous tenant's rent!).
: In his appeal in one case he made claims for apt. improvements that
: were disallowed after investigation and inspection. He had lied
: about major work done, and submitted inflated receipts for work done
: by his own contracting company.
: During the past year, beginning with the 2 apts. beneath mine,
: after fire damage to one room, he has had his crew of bunglers
: gutting one apt. after another and replacing walls, floors, closets,
: ceilings, that were not in need of replacement. He has managed to
: get long-term tenants to move out, by refusing to make necessary
: repairs; lying to those who don't know their rights, don't speak
: English, or may be illegal; and bribing others to move.
: If he has obtained permits, which I doubt, they are not displayed.
: He told one tenant she had to move, that he had permission to
: renovate her apt. She checked it out and learned his request for
: work on her apt. had been denied.
: He has refused to make any repairs other than emergencies in my
: apt. for a number of years, and even then only the cheapest-- for
: example: replacement of a washer 6 times in 5 years, when it's
: obvious the entire faucet- and the sink- need replacement. Housing
: Court judges have allowed him to make empty promises and excvses,
: repeatedly. My photos of holes in walls (one reveals brick- created
: by overzealous firemen, along with other damage), a hole in the
: floor, 2 large holes in the ceiling- with plaster falling, no
: painting for 7 years, and many other horrors, are barely glanced
: at and ignored.
: I've called the Dept. of Buildings- and was told by a worker
: that he'd rather not hear what I had to say, explaining that they're
: already overworked. A woman--I forget which agency, which complaint
: number-- told me the man is entitled to do whatever he chooses
: with his property. No one seems to care that he may be violating
: regulations, breaking laws. He offered me a bribe to move- in front
: of a Housing Court Mediator! One of several...If he bribes tenants
: to move, perhaps a neighbor's comment that he "pays off bigtime"
: explains the lack of interest.
: There must be some way to get someone to pay attention. I'd
: appreciate any ideas. It seems to me that his emptying, gutting,
: and renovation of apts. ( by vertical 2's and 3's-- as in 2A, 3A,
: and 4A), is purposeful, and probably not confined to this building.
: I can't help but wonder how many other landlords may be doing the
: same thing, in response to the new rent laws...? Nancy Bernardi-Baker
: own contracting company
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