Bad landlord? First 'Rental Ripoff' hearing held in Downtown Brooklyn
Hearings will be held in all five boroughs from February to April.
More Stories
The first in a series of hearings aimed at taking down "bad landlords" was held in Downtown Brooklyn today.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the first-of-its-kind 'Rental Ripoff' hearings in his first days in office, giving tenants in New York a platform to speak directly to his office about neglectful housing conditions and their landlords' bad practices.
"New Yorkers can discuss the challenges they face—from poor conditions and repair delays to unconscionable business practices and non-rent fees. City leaders from agencies focused on tenant stability, housing quality, and consumer protection will be there to listen," the website says.
Hearings will be held in all five boroughs from February to April.
Members from the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Department of Buildings, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection will be among the agencies in attendance.
News 12 spoke with tenant organizers like Jaren Forbes.
“We're going to be finally heard and the opportunity to meet people in person that are usually hiding behind papers. We get to see them face-to-face and they get to feel our energy," said Forbes.
Registration is required and testimony can be submitted online if you cannot attend in person.
According to the mayor's office, city agencies will be required to publish a report 90 days after the final hearing with recommendations for policy changes and action plans based on testimony.
The hearings, however, do not include NYCHA residents.
"While these hearings focus on price gouging and living conditions for private-market renters, senior leadership and staff from NYCHA will be on-site to ensure that residents can submit in-apartment repair requests, file heat/hot water complaints, or discuss development-wide issues. In the coming months, our administration will release a housing plan focused on improving housing quality for all New Yorkers, including those in public housing," the website says.
People like Rochelle Hobson were in attendance. News 12 previously did a story with Hobson about poor living conditions in East Flatbush.
"I haven’t had guests come to my house in 4 or 5 years and they say you still live in that dump?” said Hobson.
Hobson also says this hearing has given her hope. Landlords argue the hearings only create further division. “Housing works best when all parties are pulling in the same direction, but the Mayor is intent on demonizing owners and spreading divisiveness….This rental ripoff circus act is another tool that the Mayor will use to deliver socialized housing ahead of schedule," said Ann Korchak, board president of the Small Property Owners of New York (SPONY).
Cea Weaver, director of the New York City Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, addressed the concern.
“I believe that there are many very responsible landlords in the city who work very hard to improve living conditions in their buildings. What we’re trying to do is see how the system can be improved from start to finish," said Weaver.
Tenants can attend hearings in any borough regardless of where they live, but they must register ahead of time.
Queens: Long Island City - March 5 - 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Bronx: Fordham March 11 - 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Manhattan East Harlem March 28 - 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Staten Island: North Shore April 7 - 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
To register or submit testimony, click here.
