Image Credit: NYC HPD
The landlord had previously topped the NYC Public Advocate’s Worst Landlord Watchlist. On November 22, 2021, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development announced that a settlement had been reached with Jason Korn, a Brooklyn-based landlord over outstanding building violations and tenant harassment in six buildings in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
HPD’s Anti-Harassment Unit and Division of Code Enforcement conducted an investigation into Mr. Korn’s buildings. The investigation involved four buildings in Brooklyn (1921 Avenue I; 1439 Ocean Avenue; 578 East 17 Street; 250 East 29 Street) and two buildings in Manhattan (192 Nagel Avenue and 200 Nagle Avenue), which in total contain 338 households.
HPD conducted over 35 site visits throughout the investigation. The investigation revealed building neglect which resulted in unsafe conditions including water leaks, lead-based paint, mold and an infestation of pests including mice and roaches. Further investigation revealed that Mr. Korn had engaged in false certification of the correction of violations.
Mr. Korn agreed to pay $235,000 in civil penalties, correct all outstanding housing code violations within 90 days and to comply with tenant harassment laws. HPD will continue to monitor to ensure compliance with the settlement, and the agency has the option to seek additional penalties in court if the violations are not fixed by the agreed upon time.
HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll stated, “Landlords have a responsibility to provide safe housing for their tenants and when they fail to meet that responsibility, there needs to be consequences. Even while we offer assistance to tenants and landlords who are struggling to maintain their properties, landlords should know that HPD will also use the full weight of its enforcement capabilities if they repeatedly fail to uphold their obligation to ensure that New Yorkers live in safe and secure housing.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the CityLaw fellow and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)