John Anderson Will Return Brooklyn Units to Rent Stabilization in First Landlord Settlement Under OAG’s Rent Stabilization Compliance Program Compliance Program Has Prevented 27 Evictions and Returned 131 Units to Rent StabilizationNew York Attorney General Letitia James announced the first settlement reached with a landlord as part of her office’s compliance program focused on enforcing “de facto” rent stabilization in buildings throughout New York City. As part of the compliance program, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) sent letters to more than 50 New York City landlords who owned buildings that were found to be de facto rent stabilized but had not been registered with New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). In June 2026, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against New York City landlord John Anderson for failing to register units in Brooklyn as rent-stabilized with HCR. Today, Attorney General James announced that Anderson will return all units in his Brooklyn apartment building to rent stabilization, provide rent-stabilized leases to all tenants, and fix any hazardous conditions in the building to ensure a safe environment for tenants.
“New York City’s rent stabilization laws are clear, and my office will not hesitate to enforce them,” said Attorney General James. “We created this compliance program to ensure that all New York City tenants are treated fairly and that all landlords are following the law. I am proud of the success this program has already shown, and I will continue to stand up for every New York tenant.”
Buildings can be exempt from rent stabilization laws if a landlord can prove a building was built after 1974 or has fewer than six units. The buildings subject to OAG’s compliance program were all found by a court or HCR to be subject to rent stabilization laws because a current or former landlord had added enough units to bring the total units in each building to six or more. Rent stabilization status remains even if the total units go below six, such as when the owner subsequently removes a newly added apartment. Since its launch in May 2025, OAG’s de facto rent stabilization compliance program has successfully prevented 27 evictions and secured the return of 131 units to rent stabilization.
In August 2025, OAG sent the first of multiple compliance letters to Anderson, but Anderson failed to return his building’s units to rent stabilization. In June 2026, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against Anderson, alleging that for 10 years, Anderson failed to provide rent-stabilized leases to his tenants at 1075 Dean Street (1075 Dean) in Brooklyn. The OAG also alleged that in an attempt to continue flouting the law, Anderson lied about 1075 Dean’s rent-stabilized status on an application with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) and even sent his friend to impersonate him in court. A tenant of 1075 Dean reported that Anderson harassed and retaliated against her after she asked for a rent-stabilized lease by cutting off her utilities, including gas, water, and electricity.
As a result of this settlement, Anderson will return all units in his Brooklyn apartment building to rent stabilization and will provide rent-stabilized leases to all tenants. Anderson will also fix any hazardous conditions in the building to ensure a safe environment for tenants.
Through the de facto rent stabilization compliance program, OAG has successfully prevented 27 evictions and has compelled 30 landlords to certify that they have complied with the program, resulting in the return of 131 units to rent stabilization.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the first settlement reached with a landlord as part of her office’s compliance program focused on enforcing “de facto” rent stabilization in buildings throughout New York City. As part of the compliance program, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) sent letters to more than 50 New York City landlords who owned buildings that were found to be de facto rent stabilized but had not been registered with New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). In June 2026, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against New York City landlord John Anderson for failing to register units in Brooklyn as rent-stabilized with HCR. Today, Attorney General James announced that Anderson will return all units in his Brooklyn apartment building to rent stabilization, provide rent-stabilized leases to all tenants, and fix any hazardous conditions in the building to ensure a safe environment for tenants.
“New York City’s rent stabilization laws are clear, and my office will not hesitate to enforce them,” said Attorney General James. “We created this compliance program to ensure that all New York City tenants are treated fairly and that all landlords are following the law. I am proud of the success this program has already shown, and I will continue to stand up for every New York tenant.”
Buildings can be exempt from rent stabilization laws if a landlord can prove a building was built after 1974 or has fewer than six units. The buildings subject to OAG’s compliance program were all found by a court or HCR to be subject to rent stabilization laws because a current or former landlord had added enough units to bring the total units in each building to six or more. Rent stabilization status remains even if the total units go below six, such as when the owner subsequently removes a newly added apartment. Since its launch in May 2025, OAG’s de facto rent stabilization compliance program has successfully prevented 27 evictions and secured the return of 131 units to rent stabilization.
In August 2025, OAG sent the first of multiple compliance letters to Anderson, but Anderson failed to return his building’s units to rent stabilization. In June 2026, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against Anderson, alleging that for 10 years, Anderson failed to provide rent-stabilized leases to his tenants at 1075 Dean Street (1075 Dean) in Brooklyn. The OAG also alleged that in an attempt to continue flouting the law, Anderson lied about 1075 Dean’s rent-stabilized status on an application with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) and even sent his friend to impersonate him in court. A tenant of 1075 Dean reported that Anderson harassed and retaliated against her after she asked for a rent-stabilized lease by cutting off her utilities, including gas, water, and electricity.
As a result of this settlement, Anderson will return all units in his Brooklyn apartment building to rent stabilization and will provide rent-stabilized leases to all tenants. Anderson will also fix any hazardous conditions in the building to ensure a safe environment for tenants.
Through the de facto rent stabilization compliance program, OAG has successfully prevented 27 evictions and has compelled 30 landlords to certify that they have complied with the program, resulting in the return of 131 units to rent stabilization.
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