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 to address tenant harassment and hazardous conditions across 14 buildings in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.
The settlement requires A&E to correct more than 4,000 housing code violations and includes injunctions prohibiting further tenant harassment. The action was led by HPD’s Anti-Harassment Unit and targets properties with longstanding issues such as mold, lack of heat and hot water, broken elevators, structural decay, and pest infestations.
City officials described the case as an early example of the Mamdani administration’s aggressive approach to tenant protection. On his first day in office, Mayor Mamdani signed executive orders to strengthen the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and accelerate housing delivery, including on City-owned land. HPD and other agencies have pledged continued enforcement against landlords who fail to maintain safe and legal housing conditions.
“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,” Mamdani said in a press release, calling the settlement a step toward accountability and relief for affected tenants.
Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Leila Bozorg said the agreement sends a clear message that neglect and harassment will not be tolerated, while Commissioner-designate Levy emphasized that basic services like repairs, heat, and hot water are fundamental tenant rights.
The litigation covers nine buildings in Queens, three in Manhattan and two in Brooklyn. HPD’s investigation initially found severe conditions at four properties and escalated after violations went uncorrected. During the legal process, more than 1,000 violations were resolved, and HPD completed an additional $488,000 in emergency repairs. Failure to comply with the settlement could result in further court action and penalties.