Mamdani administration enforces tenant protections on day 16 of new term.
In one of the first major enforcement victories of his administration, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a historic $2.1 million settlement involving a landlord responsible for 14 buildings across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. The settlement with A&E Real Estate and associated principals addresses tenant harassment and hazardous conditions affecting thousands of residents. The announcement came on January 16, marking day 16 of Mamdani’s term as mayor, and signals the new administration’s intention to prioritize tenant protections and hold negligent property owners accountable.
Scale of Violations Addressed
The settlement covers 14 properties scattered across three boroughs and addresses more than 4,000 building code violations documented by the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development. The agreement requires A&E Realty to correct all identified hazardous conditions and comply with court-issued injunctions preventing further tenant harassment. Over the course of litigation that began under the previous administration, more than 1,000 violations have already been corrected following enforcement actions and court orders. The city also made an additional $488,000 worth of emergency repairs through the Emergency Repair Program. Should A&E not comply with the settlement terms, HPD may seek additional court orders and further penalties, according to the city’s announcement.
Tenants Describe Years of Neglect
Tenant Diana de la Pava, who has lived in one of the A&E buildings for more than 13 years, detailed chronic conditions affecting residents. She described broken elevators that effectively trapped some residents, mold throughout the buildings, pest infestations, and other unsafe conditions. Elderly and disabled residents were particularly vulnerable to the impacts of nonfunctional elevators, which contributed to preventable health crises and isolation. De la Pava described the situation as not merely a communication failure but as a business model for A&E, suggesting the landlord had deliberately chosen profit over maintenance. Council Member Shekar Krishnan, whose Jackson Heights district includes the highest concentration of affected properties, noted that every repair won leaves many more violations to fight. He praised the Mamdani administration for taking action early in the new term and signaled that enforcement would continue.
Mamdani Administration’s Enforcement Approach
The settlement represents the Mamdani administration’s first major use of the city’s enforcement tools to advance tenant protections. Mayor Mamdani made tenant protection a focal point of his administration on his first day in office, signing executive orders to revitalize the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) and help deliver housing more quickly, including on city-owned sites. HPD, the MOPT, and other agencies will continue to use every available tool to defend and strengthen tenants’ rights, confront bad-actor landlords, and intervene when unsafe or illegal conditions put tenants at risk. The Mamdani administration plans to use this case as a template for future enforcement actions, including upcoming tenant hearings in all five boroughs within the first 100 days.
HPD Commissioner on Accountability
Incoming Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Dina Levy said that by holding bad actors accountable, the city is making clear that no landlord will escape consequences of violating housing code. Tenants should not have to fight day in and day out for basic services such as heat, hot water, or ceiling repairs, Levy emphasized. These are fundamental rights that the city will enforce through civil contempt motions, emergency repairs, and injunctions to prevent tenant harassment. The enforcement approach demonstrates a proactive stance toward holding landlords accountable in real time. Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg stated that the city will not stand by when bad landlords let buildings decay and tenants suffer, calling the settlement a statement of values that every New Yorker has a right to feel safe in their own home.
Landlord Response
A&E Realty responded with a statement saying it reached the settlement in collaboration with the city. The company noted that it has invested in rehabbing elevators, replacing boilers, and addressing longstanding violations across its portfolio. A&E added that it is delivering on a repair plan agreed with HPD. The company stated it looks forward to partnering with the City to improve residents’ lives and continue investing in New York City’s housing stock. This response suggests A&E may continue to contest the broader characterization of its practices while acknowledging the need for specific repairs identified in the settlement.
Template for Future Enforcement
The Mamdani administration has signaled that this settlement will serve as a model for how the city approaches landlord enforcement. The city stressed that its enforcement tools include civil contempt motions, emergency repairs, and injunctions to prevent tenant harassment, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to accountability. Upcoming rental rip-off hearings in all five boroughs within the first 100 days are designed to give tenants a direct voice in shaping housing policy. These hearings will track violations and ensure landlords are held accountable in real time. The focus on enforcement early in Mamdani’s term suggests the administration intends to make tenant protection a defining feature of his time in office. For more information on NYC housing enforcement, residents can contact their local HPD office or call 311 to report violations.
