More Than 1,400 NYC Buildings 'Put Tenants At Risk,' City Says

NEW YORK CITY — More than 1,400 buildings across New York City are facing restrictions on what construction permits they can obtain because landlords have been slow to address hazardous issues that are putting tenants at risk, city’s Department of Buildings and Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced this week.

The affected dwellings across New York City are outlined on a new interactive map that the Department of Buildings released this week. The building permits have been restricted by Local Law 104, which was passed by the City Council in 2019 and that is intended to penalize landlords that intentionally allow their buildings to deteriorate to drive tenants away.

According to the map, the areas of the city where landlords have been among the most egregious include Central Brooklyn, Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx — each of which have dozens of properties where landlords have been lax in addressing hazardous areas. In Brooklyn alone, there were 795 buildings listed on the map — which represents more than half of those found to be in violations, city records show.

City Buildings Commissioner Melanie De Rocca said this week that the map allows residents to determine which landlords are behind on keeping up with necessary fixes and where any new work could be viewed as a form of tenant harassment. Those landlords, De Rocca said, are now on notice.

City officials said that those buildings that are highlighted on the map will not be eligible for DOB permits until the violations have been addressed the building’s landlord. The only exception is a situation in which permits are necessary to correct the issue and resolve the matter between the landlord and the city.

The map, which is updated daily, provides users with information such as which buildings and units within the dwelling are facing violations. The restricting of building permits began in March, according to city officials, and the restrictions are based on violations that were detected after Jan. 20 when Local Law 104 went into effect.

“Everyone deserves to live in a safe and comfortable environment. When bad landlords demonstrate their unwillingness to provide this basic necessity, the city must hold them accountable on every front,” City Councilwoman Margaret Chin said in a news release.

She added: "Landlords often demand extensive background checks from their tenants, who have very little means to check the building owner's management history. Oversight requires transparency, and I am hopeful that this open data gives the public an additional tool when choosing where to rent or in present negotiations with property owners.”

Buildings that appear on the map are those which 35 or more dwellings and two or more violations for every unit or buildings with fewer than 35 dwellings and three or more violations in every unit.

City residents are encouraged to call 311 to report any hazardous living conditions in their buildings or to report non-compliant or unsafe construction conditions. Tenants can also visit the Department’s Office of the Tenant Advocate (OTA) page, which also provides more information about possible violations.

“I have great respect for the many landlords that take their responsibilities seriously and who repair buildings when necessary,” said City Councilman Robert Cornegy, who chairs the Committee on Housing and Buildings. “… But if you cannot maintain your buildings, it is more than fair to block you from getting permits for new projects.

“If you are endangering New Yorkers with excessive buildings violations, then strong action is necessary from preventing you from creating new dangers.”