One of New York City’s largest landlords will pay a $2.1 million settlement to resolve more than 4,000 code violations and allegations of tenant harassment at 14 buildings across three boroughs, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday.
The agreement resolves a year-and-a-half-long legal battle with A&E Real Estate, which was initiated by Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.
“For too many New Yorkers, when they hear the words A&E Real Estate, they think of mistreatment and neglect,” Mamdani said at a press conference at an A&E apartment building in Jackson Heights. “City Hall will not sit idly by and accept this illegality, nor will we allow bad actors to continue to harass tenants with impunity.”
The settlement covers about 750 tenants living in A&E buildings in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Incoming Housing Commissioner Dina Levy said it was the result of “sustained” enforcement by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Anti-Harassment Unit, and is the largest settlement in the unit’s history.
“ Safe, livable housing is not a luxury, it is not a favor, it is an absolute right,” Levy said.
City data show the Jackson Heights apartment building where Mamdani held the press conference has 220 open violations, for issues including roach infestations, water leaks and broken lights.
A senior executive for A&E Real Estate framed the settlement agreement as a partnership with the city.
“We’ve made it our mission to collaborate with the city to improve this building and others that were in deep disrepair when we took ownership,” company CEO Donald Hastings said in a statement. “We are pleased to have settled all legal issues with the City and have agreed upon a repair plan with the housing department that we are already delivering on.”
A&E Real Estate has a history of violations at its properties. Dozens of tenants of the La Mesa Verde apartments in Jackson Heights are collectively suing A&E to try to force repairs after years of alleged systemic neglect. That lawsuit is ongoing.
A&E Executive Chair Douglas Eisenberg gave a super PAC supporting former Gov. Andrew Cuomo $125,000 during the recent mayoral election.
As a candidate and mayor, Mamdani has frequently called out landlords. On his first day in office Mamdani visited a dilapidated apartment in Brooklyn. He’s empowered a Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants to hold negligent landlords accountable. And he’s said he’ll host “rental ripoff” hearings with tenants during his first 100 days in office.
Housing officials said that if A&E does not comply with the terms of the new settlement, they may seek additional court orders and penalties.
