‘Slumlord’ sells two Staten Island apartment buildings

Most New Yorkers are apartment dwellers, which means that they depend on property owners to keep their living quarters safe. Unfortunately, not all property owners take these duties seriously, and tenants are often injured as a result. In general, property owners can be held liable when an injury occurs on their property and negligence was involved.

Some New York City property owners are notorious for owning apartment buildings riddled with hazards and safety violations. One landlord, who was called a “slumlord” by a New York City Council member, has reportedly sold two apartment buildings in Staten Island that were known for their dangerous conditions.

The owner of the Section 8 apartments located at 195 and 231 Steuben Street in Concord sold the buildings for $27 million to a new buyer who plans to fix them up by next year, according to a report in Multi-Housing News. Under the former owner’s management, the apartment buildings reportedly had as many as 200 city housing code violations.

The violations included broken windows and locks, rodents, and malfunctioning elevators, all of which pose hazards to health and safety. It isn’t clear if the landlord faced personal injury lawsuits as a result of the conditions of the apartment buildings, but it is certainly possible if accidents occurred.

Hopefully, the new owners of the 98-unit apartment complex will do a much better job at keeping the buildings safe for tenants. Every New York City tenant has the right to live in a place that is safe and free from unnecessary hazards such as broken windows and dangerous elevators.

Source: Staten Island Advance, “Man labeled ‘slumlord’ by NYC Council speaker sells 2 Staten Island apartments for $27 million,” Ken Paulsen, Sept. 10, 2013