New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams has once again put the spotlight on negligent landlords in the city by releasing his annual “Worst Landlords Watchlist.” This list highlights building owners who have failed to address serious maintenance and safety issues, leaving tenants in distress. The list ranks landlords based on the number of buildings they own and their open violations with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).
Top Offenders on the Worst Landlords Watchlist
The top five worst landlords in 2024, according to Williams, are:
- Barry Singer
- Alfred Thompson
- Karen Greer
- Melanie Martin
- Claudette Henry
All these landlords manage multiple buildings across New York City, often operating under hard-to-trace LLCs, making it difficult to determine the true owners. Each of them has at least 1,000 open HPD violations, indicating persistent neglect of their properties.
Lack of Transparency in Property Ownership
Williams criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul for weakening a bill that would have allowed tenants to access information about LLCs that own their buildings. He claimed that this lack of transparency helps bad landlords hide their identities and continue operating without accountability.
“These landlords do their best to try to hide who they are,” Williams said, emphasizing the need for more transparency in property ownership.
Tenant Struggles: Unsafe Living Conditions
One of the most affected tenants is Olga Camille, who lives in a building on West 170th Street in Washington Heights. While Melanie Martin is officially listed as the landlord, Camille and Williams revealed that Daniel Ohebshalow—who topped last year’s list and has even been jailed for mismanagement—is the real owner operating under a different name.
Camille and other tenants in her building have faced lack of heat, rat infestations, and deteriorating apartments for years. Some vacant units have remained in a dilapidated state for nearly two decades, further worsening the living conditions.
“We feel insecure,” Camille said, adding that her daughter had to install a security camera on their door due to safety concerns.
Landlord Association’s Response
The New York Apartment Association’s CEO, Kenny Burgos, defended private landlords, stating that NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) is actually the worst landlord in the city, failing tenants despite having more resources.
Burgos also criticized the watchlist, calling it a “distraction from larger housing policy problems.” He argued that if the city had better housing policies, bad landlords would naturally be pushed out of business, improving housing quality for all renters.
Call for Action: Holding Negligent Landlords Accountable
Tenant organizer Eva Santos Veloz has been working with Camille and other affected tenants to demand action against Ohebshalow. She highlighted extreme cases of neglect, including apartments with exposed wooden floorboards, large ceiling holes, and dangerous infestations.
“This has been going on for years. Imagine living under these conditions,” she said.
Veloz urged the city to seize Ohebshalow’s buildings and place them under the control of HPD to ensure tenants finally receive the housing conditions they deserve.
The annual Worst Landlords Watchlist serves as a crucial tool in exposing property owners who fail to maintain livable housing for New Yorkers. While some argue that systemic policy changes are needed to fix the city’s housing crisis, tenants like Olga Camille continue to suffer under unresponsive landlords.
With growing pressure from tenant activists and public officials, the hope is that real action will be taken to improve living conditions for thousands of renters across the city.
