Mamdani Administration Announces Historic $2.1 Million Settlement to Address Hazardous Conditions and Tenant Harassment Across 14 Buildings

 

A&E Real Estate and associated bad actors agree to correct building violations, injunctions to end tenant harassment 

TODAY, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and incoming Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Dina Levy announced a $2.1 million settlement involving A&E Real Estate properties with associated principals Douglas Eisenberg and Margaret Brunn, and registered managing agent Brian Garland, to address tenant harassment and hazardous conditions across 14 buildings in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. In addition to the civil penalties, the settlement requires A&E to correct more than 4,000 building condition violations across these buildings and imposes injunctions prohibiting tenant harassment moving forward.  

 

This enforcement action, led by HPD’s Anti-Harassment Unit, represents one of the tools that the Mamdani administration is bringing to bear to protect tenants across New York. Mayor Mamdani made tenant protection a focal point of his administration on his first day in office, signing executive orders to revitalize the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) and help deliver housing more quickly, including on City-owned sites. HPD, the MOPT, and other agencies will continue to use every tool available to defend and strengthen tenants’ rights, confront bad-actor landlords, and intervene when unsafe or illegal conditions put tenants at risk.  

 

“Every tenant in New York City has a right to a safe and livable home and our administration is taking decisive action to deliver exactly that. This settlement will bring real accountability and relief for the tenants of these buildings, who have been suffering from poor conditions and harassment for far too long,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “From our first day in office, we have made addressing the housing crisis a priority. Enforcement actions like these are just one of the many tools that we will use to deliver on an affordability agenda for New Yorkers.” 

 

“We will not stand by when bad landlords let buildings decay and tenants suffer. This settlement is a statement of values: that every New Yorker has a right to feel safe in their own home,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning. “We will continue to use City tools to deliver real results for tenants, whether through enforcement actions like this or working in partnership with owners who are committed to providing safe and quality housing to New Yorkers.” 

 

“It is an honor to advance the vision of the Mamdani administration and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development that safe, livable homes are a right for each and every New Yorker. By holding bad actors accountable, we are making it clear that no landlord will escape the consequences of violating the Housing Maintenance Code. Tenants should not have to fight day in and day out for a crumbling ceiling to be repaired, for mold to be remediated, or for heat and hot water to be available — these are basic rights. Through the tireless work of our enforcement teams, we are delivering justice for tenants. HPD will continue to hold landlords accountable and deliver justice for New York City tenants," said Incoming Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner, Dina Levy.  

 

The litigation that led to this settlement regards 14 buildings across three boroughs: 150-45 73 Avenue, 35-64 84 Street, 37-06 81 Street, 35-16 34 Street, 48-16 46 Street, 37-25 81 Street, 80-01 37 Street, 37-30 81 Street, and 150-40 73 Avenue in Queens; 2 Ellwood Street, 342 Fort Washington Avenue, and 350 Fort Washington Avenue in Manhattan; and 65 Ocean Avenue and 230 Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn. HPD’s initial investigation revealed widespread unsafe conditions at four buildings; when those violations were not corrected, HPD escalated enforcement by filing motions with the Court seeking civil contempt, additional Orders to Correct, and further civil penalties. 

 

Over the course of litigation, more than 1,000 violations have been corrected following enforcement actions and court orders, and HPD has made an additional $488,000 worth of repairs through the Emergency Repair Program. Should A&E not comply with these settlement terms, HPD may seek additional court orders and further penalties.