New York City is toughening its stance on landlords, with the new administration taking action on those who fail make necessary upgrades on buildings that need them.
When the city's Alternative Enforcement Program (AEP) initially launched in November 2007, it was designed put elevated pressure on landlords to make repairs that violate housing codes. The goal is to ensure safe, well-maintained and stable housing conditions.
Now, Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration has announced the addition of 250 buildings to the AEP, which will all now be under "heightened oversight." The Housing Preservation and Development has already been forced to step in and make emergency repairs to these properties, which account for a combined total of almost 55,000 in open violations. Now these landlords owe a combined $4.5 million to the city, according to the HPD and Mayor Mamdani's office.
Already, A&E Real Estate Holdings was forced to strike a deal with the HPD last month on a $2.1 million settlement, due to violations on 14 buildings. Additionally, in the new announcement, the city singled out A&E's 34-15 Parsons Blvd in Flushing, which has received the most C and B violations in the last five years. This building holds "more than 1,000 of the most serious violations," according to Mamdani's office.
Moreover, the local agency has taken legal action against landlords of 138 buildings to further pressure them into compliance.
"The Alternative Enforcement Program gives us the power to closely monitor repeat offenders and step in to fix conditions when landlords refuse to do their jobs," Mayor Mamdani said in a statement.
"We'll use every tool we have to protect New Yorkers' homes and make safe, dignified housing non-negotiable."
While not the one that made the most news, cracking down on what he called "bad landlords" was one of Mamdani's promises on the campaign trail. Mamdani previously noted that the city had the power to intervene, make the repairs and send the bill to the building owner. Perhaps now there might be more of an emphasis on the enforcement of buildings that have stacked up enough violations.
One of Mamdani's biggest campaign promises was to freeze the rent on all stabilized apartments, representing almost half of the city's rental stock. That will be another thing for local multifamily landlords to watch, with the NYC Rent Guidelines Board in position to make that decision for the first time in October 2026.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.