A Manhattan landlord who holds the notorious distinction as topping the “worst landlord” list published by the New York City Public Advocate could be going back to prison for failing to make hundreds of court-ordered repairs at the two apartment buildings he owns.
According to a report from The Gothamist, Judge Jack Stoller said he will order Daniel Ohebshalom back to Rikers Island for failing to achieve results on the list of needed repairs at the properties. According to city data, there are 320 open violations at 705-709 West 170th St., including collapsed ceilings, chronic heat outages and unrepaired leaks.
Ohebshalom was previously jailed for 60 days for failing to make repairs at the same buildings. He also faces separate criminal charges for allegedly harassing tenants and endangering the welfare of a child.
“Fixing leak damage without fixing the source of the leak is really not solving the problem,” Stoller said.
Ohebshalom lives in Southern California and was not present in Stoller’s court. His attorney Vladimir Mironenko claimed contractors were at work making the repairs.
“Work is being done every single day,” Mironenko said. “Someone’s freedom is at stake, someone who has already served 60 days in jail.”
Photo: Exterior of 705-709 West 170th St., the properties in question; courtesty of Apartments.com
I own rental properties and if I wouldn’t want to live there, I don’t expect someone else to pay to live there. Bad landlords need to pay up or pay the consequences. Good for the judge!
This is a Notorious Abusive problem we are seeing Everywhere O am A Realtor in Mid Michigan & expecting a tenant to pay to live in absolute horrific conditions because there is such a housing shortage is Absolutely disgusting and disturbing as a person period and to be in a position of owning homes you rent you should have no choice but make sure they are in good health code so persons don’t get sick and live in scum periid
I am not advocating a bailout, but with so much money going to wasteful spending and to house people here illegally, I would rather see some assistance even in the from of a grant, loan or mechanics lien against the property to help landlords get these repairs done. In NY especially, these buildings are all in dire need, it is a public safety issue for sure. Instead of jail, lock up the murderers and rapists and maybe help him help the tenants?
Darlene, if these landlords cannot afford to make repairs, they should be selling these buildings to others who can. I don’t expect handouts to pay for updating and repairs to my rentals, and I don’t expect to pay for someone else’s repairs to their INVESTMENT properties.
I live in Tn. I had a friend who worked for a group from N.Y who owned large apartment complex. She worked hard to keep relationships between owners and renters, but owners would not act quickly for important things such as the refrigerator quit working and it was two to three weeks and still owners didn’t seem to care. Wonder if they would like to live so long without this needed item. I want to make sure my tenants are happy where they live and I would live there if I were a renter.
The cities have to have enough inspectors to inspect these large apartment buildings to enforce safety and health rules.
On the other hand the tenants have to take responsibility to keep their apartments clean.
I Germany tenants are required to leave the apartment in the same condition as when they moved in, if this requires changing the carpets because they soiled them, they have to do it.
Also, there is a house rule where tenants are required to clean the stairs down to the next floor weekly and sweep the street in front of their building. in addition they have to take out their own trash.
But, then people there have a work ethic and pride in their surroundings. Streets are not littered like here.
Heidi R. Realtor