New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on January 16, 2026, that the city may take control of privately owned apartment buildings if landlords fail to correct repeated health and safety violations. The announcement reflects an aggressive new approach by the city to hold property owners accountable and ensure that tenants live in safe and habitable conditions.
Speaking from Jackson Heights, Queens, Mayor Mamdani emphasized that the city will not allow property owners to evade responsibility. “We want to make it clear to everyone in this city that no one is above the law. If you are a landlord violating the law, then this administration will hold you to account,” he said. The mayor framed the initiative as part of the city’s broader effort to protect tenants and address longstanding problems in the housing sector.
The announcement coincided with the city’s settlement with A&E Real Estate, a property management company that owns 14 buildings across Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, providing homes to approximately 750 tenants. Under the terms of the settlement, A&E Real Estate agreed to pay $2.1 million in fines, address 4,000 documented housing code violations, and adhere to an injunction prohibiting tenant harassment.
When asked why the city did not simply take over the buildings, Mayor Mamdani clarified that while the ultimate goal is tenant safety, the city’s preferred approach is compliance rather than immediate seizure. “The intended outcome is safety and wellbeing for tenants. That is what we are driven toward,” he said. “Taking control of the property is a measure of last resort, not the starting point.”
Housing Department Measures
Dina Levy, the city’s Housing Commissioner, explained the mechanisms that allow the city to intervene when landlords fail to maintain safe living conditions. Through 7A administrative proceedings, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) can remove management from an owner’s control and install responsive oversight when tenants’ health or safety is at risk. This legal framework enables the city to act decisively in cases of chronic violations while maintaining a focus on tenant protection rather than punitive property seizure alone.
Levy emphasized that the city’s priority is addressing conditions that directly threaten tenants’ wellbeing. “When a building’s infrastructure fails repeatedly and jeopardizes residents, we have both a legal and moral obligation to act,” she said.
Tenant Experiences Highlight Urgency
Tenants of A&E Real Estate’s properties have reported a range of challenges over the years, illustrating the human cost of delayed maintenance. Diana de la Pava, a resident of Jackson Heights, described ongoing elevator outages that have persisted intermittently since July 2024. Over an 18-month period, elevators in her building were out of service for approximately 12 months, leaving elderly and disabled residents effectively confined to their apartments.
“These failures effectively imprisoned elderly and disabled tenants in their own homes,” de la Pava said at a press conference. She recounted the death of Alberto Quintero, an 84-year-old tenant on the fourth floor of her building, who passed away during a heatwave. Quintero had expressed concerns about the broken elevator days before his death, warning that it could endanger his life. De la Pava said she was motivated to take action following this tragedy, recognizing the urgent need for accountability.
In response, she contacted City Council Member Shekar Krishnan, and tenants collaborated with the city to pursue legal action against the landlord. The resulting settlement, announced in December 2025, marked a significant step toward ensuring that A&E Real Estate addressed the violations and implemented safeguards to protect residents.
Landlord Response
A&E Real Estate responded to the settlement announcement with a statement emphasizing the company’s efforts to improve building conditions. The spokesperson highlighted that many of the properties were in poor condition when acquired and noted ongoing investments in infrastructure and safety improvements.
“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,” the statement read. “In every building we’ve purchased, we’ve invested in replacing boilers, rehabbing elevators, and fixing tens of thousands of longstanding violations.”
For the specific Jackson Heights property involved in the settlement, located at 35-64 84th Street, A&E indicated that substantial upgrades had already been implemented since its purchase in 2021. These improvements included complete replacement and upgrades to the boiler system, major repairs to the facade and roof, rehabilitation of aging elevators, and correction of nearly 90 percent of building violations. The company stressed its ongoing commitment to working with the city to maintain safe conditions.
Policy Implications
Mayor Mamdani’s announcement underscores the city’s willingness to escalate enforcement measures if landlords fail to comply with housing codes. While the city does not intend to assume ownership in most cases, the possibility of taking over buildings serves as a deterrent to property owners who might neglect maintenance or tenant safety.
Legal experts note that the 7A administrative framework provides the city with significant authority to intervene, balancing the interests of tenants with property rights. This approach is designed to prioritize safety without immediate heavy-handed seizure of privately owned buildings, though officials caution that the option remains available in severe or repeated violations.
Housing advocates have generally supported the mayor’s position, emphasizing that strong enforcement is necessary to prevent landlords from exploiting residents. Chronic building violations—including broken elevators, faulty heating systems, and structural deficiencies—have long plagued parts of New York City, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including seniors and those with disabilities.
Community and Political Support
The initiative has received backing from city council members and local community groups, who argue that accountability for landlords is essential to maintaining livable neighborhoods. Council Member Krishnan described the settlement as “a victory for tenants and a reminder that the city will not allow negligence to go unchecked.”
Community organizations have also emphasized the role of tenant advocacy in bringing attention to unsafe living conditions. By reporting violations, documenting risks, and collaborating with city officials, tenants have helped secure significant enforcement outcomes that might otherwise have been delayed or ignored.
Challenges and Future Enforcement
While the settlement with A&E Real Estate represents a clear achievement, city officials acknowledge that challenges remain. Housing inspectors must continue to monitor compliance, and additional enforcement actions may be necessary if other landlords fail to meet standards. Mamdani and Levy stressed that repeated violations, if left uncorrected, could still trigger city takeover measures under 7A proceedings.
The mayor also highlighted the importance of transparency and communication between tenants, landlords, and city agencies. By making settlements public and outlining expectations for remediation, the city aims to create accountability and ensure that residents are aware of their rights and avenues for recourse.
Officials indicated that enforcement will extend beyond the current settlement. Buildings across the city with recurring safety issues will face scrutiny, and the city is prepared to use the full range of administrative and legal tools to protect tenants. This may include injunctions against harassment, fines, and, in extreme cases, management takeovers.
Conclusion
Mayor Mamdani’s announcement signals a decisive approach to tenant protection and housing enforcement in New York City. By combining financial penalties, remediation requirements, and the threat of administrative takeover, the city is sending a clear message: landlords must uphold legal standards, and tenants’ safety cannot be compromised.
The A&E Real Estate settlement exemplifies how collaboration between residents, community leaders, and city agencies can produce meaningful results, even in buildings with longstanding violations. However, the mayor’s warnings indicate that the city is prepared to escalate actions when compliance is not achieved, including assuming control over privately owned properties if necessary to safeguard tenants.
As New York City continues to navigate the complexities of urban housing, the approach outlined by Mayor Mamdani could serve as a model for enforcement in other municipalities. Prioritizing tenant safety, holding landlords accountable, and maintaining transparent processes are central to the city’s strategy, ensuring that residents are protected and that properties are maintained to acceptable standards.
The announcement also underscores the ongoing role of tenant advocacy in influencing policy, highlighting how community engagement and reporting can shape outcomes and improve living conditions for all residents.
Ultimately, the message from Mayor Mamdani is clear: safety and accountability will guide enforcement, and landlords who fail to meet their obligations risk losing control of their buildings. The settlement with A&E Real Estate represents the first high-profile implementation of this approach, but city officials have made it evident that similar actions may follow wherever tenants’ health and safety are repeatedly compromised.
Emily Johnson is a critically acclaimed essayist and novelist known for her thought-provoking works centered on feminism, women’s rights, and modern relationships. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Emily grew up with a deep love of books, often spending her afternoons at her local library. She went on to study literature and gender studies at UCLA, where she became deeply involved in activism and began publishing essays in campus journals. Her debut essay collection, Voices Unbound, struck a chord with readers nationwide for its fearless exploration of gender dynamics, identity, and the challenges faced by women in contemporary society. Emily later transitioned into fiction, writing novels that balance compelling storytelling with social commentary. Her protagonists are often strong, multidimensional women navigating love, ambition, and the struggles of everyday life, making her a favorite among readers who crave authentic, relatable narratives. Critics praise her ability to merge personal intimacy with universal themes. Off the page, Emily is an advocate for women in publishing, leading workshops that encourage young female writers to embrace their voices. She lives in Seattle with her partner and two rescue cats, where she continues to write, teach, and inspire a new generation of storytellers.
