NYC landlord settles tenant harassment complaints for $1 million, promises changes
By APFriday, February 12, 2010
NY landlord settles case with AG for $1 million
NEW YORK — A New York real estate group has agreed to pay $1 million to settle allegations that it harassed tenants as part of a campaign to replace them with people paying higher rents.
Vantage Properties owns 9,500 apartments in the city.
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced the settlement Thursday.
He had accused the company of trying to push out rent-regulated tenants so it could convert their apartments to market rates.
As part of the deal, the company agreed to change the way it verifies that people in rent-stabilized apartments are in the units legally.
It will pay $250,000 to tenant groups and up to $750,000 to residents who can demonstrate that they were evicted unjustly.
Vantage Properties says it hopes the settlement will set new standards for the industry.
