Attorney General James Secures $400,000 for Tenants and Critical Repairs to The Kenney Apartments in Newburgh

 

Owners of Kenney Apartments Must Fix All Code Violations and Refund Tenants for Rent Payments They Made While Enduring Dangerous Conditions

New York Attorney General Letitia James secured $400,000 for tenants of The Kenney Apartments in Newburgh and an agreement from the owners of the complex to make all the necessary repairs to ensure tenants’ homes are safe and livable. For years, Kenney residents have endured dangerous conditions, including a consistent lack of heat and hot water through cold winters, pest infestations, broken windows and doors, mold, water and sewage leaks into their homes, and other hazards. In February 2026, Attorney General James sued the owners of The Kenney Apartments, which is home to more than 100 low-income residents, for failing to fix dozens of code violations that have led to inhospitable conditions. As a result of Attorney General James’ intervention, the owners of the apartment complex will refund $400,000 in rent payments to tenants, make all repairs necessary to fix every outstanding building code violation, and make regular reports to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of all tenant complaints, repairs made, and plans to fix any new violations.

“The owners of The Kenney Apartments neglected their tenants for years, forcing vulnerable New Yorkers to endure cold winters without heat and other horrendous conditions,” said Attorney General James. “While there is still work to be done to ensure these tenants have a clean and safe place to live, my office is determined to hold these owners accountable. This case should be a warning to landlords throughout our state: if you ignore your tenants’ complaints and fail to address code violations, my office will make you pay for your negligence.”

Attorney General James sued the owners and managers of The Kenney Apartments in February of this year for violating state laws by failing to properly maintain the buildings and apartments. The complex’s buildings have accumulated dozens of code violations, and residents have suffered in dangerous conditions that put their health and safety at risk. A lack of consistent heat and hot water forced tenants to endure cold winters by heating their homes with space heaters, which caused their electricity bills to skyrocket. Residents also reported mold and mildew that have caused illnesses, sewage leaking into their homes, and broken appliances that haven’t been fixed in years. One resident, who suffers from diabetes and needed a working refrigerator for her insulin, reported that her repeated calls to fix her broken refrigerator were ignored by her landlord.

Under the settlement with OAG, the owners and managers of The Kenney Apartments must take immediate action to repair the complex’s buildings and fix all outstanding code violations to ensure tenants have safe and habitable apartments. These repairs include mold remediation, plumbing fixes, repairs to doors, windows, floors, and walls, new paint, and more. The owners must also pay $409,697 back to tenants as a rent abatement for the months they lived in unsafe conditions. If the owners violate the settlement, they will be liable for a $100,000 penalty. To ensure the owners comply, the settlement requires them to make monthly reports to OAG documenting their progress and any new issues that arise. These reports must include details of all tenant complaints and actions taken to investigate them, all repairs done to correct code violations, any ongoing repairs, and any new code violations, along with a plan to address them.