Tenants teaming up to take landlord and management to housing court over black mold, other issues
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development says they’ve completed over $53,000 worth of emergency repairs at the building.
More Stories
Tenants in Soundview are joining forces to take their landlord and building management to housing court – and it isn’t for the first time.
Gloria Guzman has called 1349 Stratford Ave. home for the last 45 years, and she says that black mold now decorates her walls and rainwater leaks into her bedroom.
"This place was beautiful, and the people here, the neighbors take care of each other,” said Guzman. “I’m waiting for them to fix it."
Guzman says there’s also a broken elevator, and she has to travel up and down five flights of stairs to get into and out of the building.
Tenants met with the Legal Aid Society to discuss their options – and did the same in 2022 with tenant Winifred Coulton.
“My apartment blew up three times… I wish you could travel through this building, you’ll see a horror show,” said Coulton. “Now the building is revolting. We will march if we have to.”
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development says they’ve completed over $53,000 worth of emergency repairs at the building after the landlord failed to make repairs that were deemed hazardous.
They provided the following statement, in part:
“Every person deserves to have a safe and comfortable place to call home, and it is the property manager's responsibility to follow the City ’s Housing Code by promptly addressing violations. We will continue addressing tenant complaints, conducting inspections, and issuing violations to ensure that all New Yorkers feel safe and secure in their own homes.”
Lisa Management took over the property in December, and News 12 reached out to them and is awaiting a response.
