NYC Mayor Proposes Seizure of Properties Owned by Ten Worst Landlords

Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled the “Block By Block” plan, which would let the city transfer ownership of buildings owned by the ten landlords with the most housing-code violations to nonprofit groups, community land trusts, or tenant cooperatives. Mamdani called the measure “the law.”

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New York City faces soaring rents, aging apartments and frequent maintenance complaints. Tenants say 311 requests are often ignored, prompting Mamdani to promise a “Fix the City” program that will coordinate multi-agency inspections when tenant unions achieve majority support.

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The 2025 Public Advocate’s “Worst Landlord Watchlist” lists ten owners with the most open HPD violations: Margaret Brunn and Donald Hastings of A&E Real Estate Holdings; Barry Singer; Joseph Cafiero; Peter Fine; Robyn Lucas; Yonatan Bahumi; Claudette Henry; Joseph Pistilli; David Tennenbaum.

Newsweek

‘Fix the City’ will target at least ten portfolios with the highest concentration of egregious violations. ‘Block By Block’ aims to build 200,000 new affordable units, preserve another 200,000, allocate $5.6 billion to NYCHA and set a $40-per-hour wage floor on city projects.

Newsweek

Mamdani said the city will “strengthen enforcement against bad landlords” and improve the 311 process, adding that coordinated “roof-to-basement” inspections will follow when tenant unions coalesce around a single issue. A&E Real Estate, which appears on the watchlist, disputed its inclusion, citing over $800 million in recent repairs and 35,000 cleared violations. Contractor Joseph Cafiero said he is not a landlord but a repair contractor hired by banks to fix foreclosed properties.

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A&E Real Estate called labeling its $800 million repair effort as ‘neglect’ “misleading and unrealistic.” The firm has not publicly addressed the seizure proposal. Cafiero’s comments underscore a dispute over who should bear responsibility for chronic building defects.

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The mayor’s office has not released a definitive list of landlords slated for seizure, and owners Robyn Lucas, Yonatan Bahumi, Claudette Henry and David Tennenbaum could not be reached for comment. Reliance on the Public Advocate’s watchlist leaves unanswered questions about the legal criteria for property transfer.

Newsweek

• “The crisis in New York City is not just the cost of housing, but also the conditions of housing,” — Zohran Mamdani, Mayor

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• “Frankly, this is the law,” — Zohran Mamdani, Mayor

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• “To label over $800 million in repairs as ‘neglect’ is misleading and unrealistic,” — A&E Real Estate, spokesperson

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• “We're coming in and repairing the work that the bad landlords just didn't make.” — Joseph Cafiero, contractor

Newsweek

Later this year the city will hold multi-agency “roof-to-basement” inspection days and begin investigations of the ten most violation-laden portfolios. The “Fix the City” program will enable legal actions against negligent owners, while the “Block By Block” plan proceeds with its affordable-housing construction targets.

Newsweek