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NYC's Worst Landlords Now Identified On Craigslist
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 4, 2011
Modified Apr 4, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 4, 2011
Modified Apr 4, 2011
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A new feature in Craigslist lets apartment hunters steer clear of bad landlords. The new link, found at the top of the apartment listings, leads to a website created by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio's office. It currently lists more than 320 landlords and more than 400 buildings that have been cited for housing code violations. Currently number one on the list: one Lisa Dreshaj, who has racked up 2,047 infractions with her four buildings, including 656 class C violations, which are considered "immediately hazardous." You can also vote on ways to hold landlords more accountable on the site. Public dunking booths, anyone?
The Craigslist feature comes as de Blasio proposes a plan to force the worst landlords to change their ways. "We need to change New York’s approach to holding chronically bad landlords accountable," de Blasio said in a statment. "We need to creatively use the tools we have right at our fingertips so that more New Yorkers can finally live in safe apartments." De Blasio's 8-point "Safer Housing" plan, which has Mayor Bloomberg's backing, includes the following proposals:
- City legislation to bar landlords with a long history of severe housing violations from receiving taxpayer dollars through rent programs like Section 8 and Advantage.
- A partnership with the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to prevent new City office space leases from being issued to landlords on NYC’s Worst Landlords Watch List
- Listing NYC’s Worst Landlords Watch List on Craigslist.org as a resource for apartment-hunters.
- Working with the New York City Housing Authority to reduce paperwork requirements and streamline the process for responsible landlords who have made repairs.
- An innovative pilot project with South Brooklyn Legal Services to recruit private sector law firms to help law-abiding tenants navigate housing court, pro bono.
- The extension and expansion of rent regulations, which expire in June 2011.
- Sending field organizers into troubled buildings to help form new tenant associations.
- State legislation sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger to establish mandatory minimum fines for the most severe category of housing violations, like failing to provide heat.
But won't someone think of the poor defenseless landlords! CBS 2 asks, "Do landlords face an impossible job in New York?" In response, one reader suggests landlords level the playing field by "compiling a list of the worst tenants and posting it on Craigslist."
Tagged
bill de blasio
craigslist
housing
landlords
worst landlords
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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