New York's Ten worst Landlords

The landlord that owns this building is a trip. I would have to say he is also one of the worst. The only problem is that he lives in NJ. So i don't think he counts.

@uraniumfish wow! most of them sound like real douche bags. I also have a question for you since you are an experienced renter we are now deciding to rent out our apartment when we leave , when you go into a rental is it always freshly painted and clean?Its not that my apartment is not clean or anything but I think it could do with a fresh coat of paint. Was wondering if I it is necessary to do so?.

@Uptowngirl: I can also answer that since I am also a renter and have moved four times in the last 5 years. Every apartment I moved into the place was cleaned and painted ahead of time. This is a usually a requirement of the landlord and city ordinances, although I can't be too sure about that. All I know is that for every apartment I rented, the place was clean and painted when I moved in. I guess in a sense it is done on purpose to attract renters. I don't think it is a requirement since you are subletting the apartment. Have the people seen your apartment already? Are you leaving your furniture behind or are you taking everything out? What will be left behind? Are you renting the place on limited terms? Will the apartment be furnished or unfurnished. By knowing the answer to these questions may be a guide to help you decide whether to paint or not. Frankly, if your apartment is clean, neat, and the walls don't look like they've been in a war zone, you should be able to get by without painting the walls or ceiling. Read this, it may help: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_law_regarding_painting_an_apartment

@hhusted thanks a lot for the information. As I said my apartment is is decent shape and I looking to rent it unfurnished as we are taking our furniture with us. I haven't actually actively spread the word around as we have been waffling whether we should/should not rent it. Will wait for my husband to return until we finally decide I guess.

It seems fair to give it a fresh coat of paint. I don't know if that's a city ordinance or anything, but it's at the very least courteous upon handing the place over to new tenants. It's a chore, but it's not so expensive/ time consuming.

I've heard from every broker I know that Jakobsen properties are the worst. They won't even show them to a client if they half like the person because those people are so notoriously bad.

Hah! There are so many bad landlords, the Voice ran a Part II this week! More horror stories here: http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-03-24/news/new-york-s-ten-worst-landlords-part2/

And, oh man, the photo of that child sleeping on the floor?

This is highly disturbing - it's a pity there are not too many better legal measures that could monitor these issues and advocate for tenants.

It seems astonishing that landlords can hide behind weird legal smoke screens. Like, the tenants can't sue the landlord because they can't actually find out who the landlord is. Crazy.

I'm reading things like this: "Some of his tenants and ex-tenants say he's a really, really angry guy who freaks them out with fits of crazy temper, maniacal rage, and unfair and unsettling behavior" and wondering how people like these can operate and have so much power over the lives of others! That guy sounds like he needs to be in a mental hospital!

@everyone of the landlords listed in the articles that Uraniumfish supplied -Frank Palazzalo has just been sued by his tenants who want the court to appoint an independent administrator to collect rents and use the money to undertake the necessary repairs to the building.Maybe collective action is the best way to get through to these landlords, http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100401/REAL_ESTATE/100409991

Thank goodness! Thanks for the link @uptowngirl; I'm glad someone is making an effort to take action.

@uptowngirl Well thank goodness for that!

Whao, Indig: "In early February, for the first time in three years, the building's heat came on." I feel soooo lucky to not have to live in desperate locales such as these. These stories make me really angry though. How can people of such means profit off other people's misery and then not even afford them heat?!