NEW YORK—“If you’re a slumlord, beware,” said public advocate candidate Bill de Blasio this Sunday as he announced a new Web site designed to expose landlords violating health and safety conditions in their buildings.
“Leaking pipes, exposed wires, no fire alarms, broken locks—New Yorkers across our city are forced to live under these and many other deplorable conditions each day, with no recourse against their negligent landlords,” said de Blasio in a press release.
De Blasio’s Web site entitled Slumlord Watch List will list landlords with serious violations in the five boroughs in an attempt to expose them and move tenants into action.
“This watch list will help identify and hopefully shame landlords who continually violate city housing laws and maintain substandard housing,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler while commending de Blasio for his efforts in a press release.
The Web site is designed to be user-friendly and it allows tenants to post complaints and report any violations. The Web site also includes an interactive feature for tenants to easily see where the violations are occurring.
Once the complaint is made either through the Web site or by calling de Blasio’s office, the reports will be crosschecked with the Department of Housing Preservation & Development violations list and be added to the Web site.
“If tenants are aware that it’s not just them, then you can bring all those people together and give them all a stronger voice,” said Gwen Rocco, press secretary for Council Member de Blasio. She said that the Web site is really to expose and shine a light on them.
To qualify for the Slumlord Watch List, landlords must have accumulated an average of three serious, life threatening violations for buildings with thirty-five units or less. For larger buildings, they must have at least two serious violations per unit.
Rocco said that the press conference was the first step to launch the Web site and that in the near future, de Blasio plans to hold a rally in Washington Heights in front of a building criticized for its serious violations. The updated list will also be distributed monthly to tenants of buildings in violation, as well as local elected officials and community boards.
“Leaking pipes, exposed wires, no fire alarms, broken locks—New Yorkers across our city are forced to live under these and many other deplorable conditions each day, with no recourse against their negligent landlords,” said de Blasio in a press release.
De Blasio’s Web site entitled Slumlord Watch List will list landlords with serious violations in the five boroughs in an attempt to expose them and move tenants into action.
“This watch list will help identify and hopefully shame landlords who continually violate city housing laws and maintain substandard housing,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler while commending de Blasio for his efforts in a press release.
The Web site is designed to be user-friendly and it allows tenants to post complaints and report any violations. The Web site also includes an interactive feature for tenants to easily see where the violations are occurring.
Once the complaint is made either through the Web site or by calling de Blasio’s office, the reports will be crosschecked with the Department of Housing Preservation & Development violations list and be added to the Web site.
“If tenants are aware that it’s not just them, then you can bring all those people together and give them all a stronger voice,” said Gwen Rocco, press secretary for Council Member de Blasio. She said that the Web site is really to expose and shine a light on them.
To qualify for the Slumlord Watch List, landlords must have accumulated an average of three serious, life threatening violations for buildings with thirty-five units or less. For larger buildings, they must have at least two serious violations per unit.
Rocco said that the press conference was the first step to launch the Web site and that in the near future, de Blasio plans to hold a rally in Washington Heights in front of a building criticized for its serious violations. The updated list will also be distributed monthly to tenants of buildings in violation, as well as local elected officials and community boards.
