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'Didn't know we had a landlord' — fatal Queens house fire exposes squalor, violations
By
Charles Lane
Published Apr 2, 2026
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Courtesy of court filings
By
Charles Lane
Published Apr 2, 2026
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The Flushing building where four people died in a fire last month was a neglected, densely packed residence with garbage-strewn hallways, leaks and stairways blocked with debris, according to tenant interviews and court records.
The city medical examiner has ruled the deaths at 132-05 Avery Ave. a homicide. No arrests have been made and it's unclear who was targeted or why. But tenants say life at the two-family home has been difficult for a while.
“The landlord did not pay attention to this house whatsoever,” said Jason Lee, a third-floor resident. “We didn’t even know we had a landlord.”
Tenants said the building was poorly maintained, with garbage blocking hallways, leaks left unrepaired and makeshift units carved out of the building.
City records show the two-family home had been converted into at least seven units, including single-room occupancy-style housing. Court filings describe the building as divided into as many as 14 units. City records show dozens of violations at the property, some still open.
In 2023, the city sued the building’s owner, Dechang Yee, seeking to collect $300,000 in penalties tied to Department of Buildings violations issued in 2020. Administrative hearings found the owner in violation and imposed multiple fines, which the city said remained unpaid.
Yee filed eviction cases in 2025 against four of the building's occupants, alleging they were squatters who had no lease or legal right to be there.
Tenants disputed that claim.
Bin Hu, a first-floor resident, said he signed leases through a man he understood to be managing the building. Court filings show that the man, Peter Tan, was Yee’s legal designee. After Tan died, Hu said, no one collected rent or made repairs. He said he spent thousands of dollars on repairs himself, including plumbing and heating. Hu and other tenants described hazardous conditions inside the building. Photos included in court filings appear to show cluttered hallways, peeling walls and debris.
“The hallways were always blocked by some items, like a small refrigerator and an AC and garbage bags,” Hu said. “There was only a small area you can pass to go upstairs.”
In February, Hu and Yee reached a settlement allowing Hu to remain in his unit temporarily until September 2026 if he vacated voluntarily at that time.
Lee, the third-floor tenant, said he was asleep when the fire broke out and was awakened by his girlfriend. When he opened his door, he said, flames were already spreading from the stairway.
“I had no more than 45 to 50 seconds,” he said. He escaped by jumping from a third-floor window.
The fire killed Sihan Yang, a 3-year-old girl, and Chengri Cui, 50, police said. Two other victims, a 61-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man, have not been publicly identified.
The city’s fire marshal is investigating.
Yee’s attorney declined to comment.
Tagged
public safety
queens
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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