New York City and Mayor Zohran Mamdani reached a $2.1 million settlement with A&E Real Estate covering 14 buildings in three boroughs. The deal requires payment of restitution, the correction of more than 4,000 Housing Code violations and binding injunctions to prevent tenant harassment, affecting roughly 750 tenants. Officials called it the largest settlement of its type for the unit and warned the city has further enforcement options if repairs are not completed. The administration also plans "rental ripoff" hearings in each borough to gather resident testimony and shape enforcement.
NYC Secures $2.1M Settlement With A&E Real Estate to Fix 14 Buildings and Stop Tenant Harassment
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a news conference in Queens Friday, where he announced a $2.1 million settlement with A&E Real Estate properties to address alleged tenant harassment and hazardous conditions at 14 buildings in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.(Getty Images)
New York City and Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a $2.1 million settlement with A&E Real Estate resolving litigation tied to 14 apartment buildings across three boroughs. City officials say the agreement requires the landlord to pay restitution, correct thousands of housing-code violations and be bound by injunctions that prohibit tenant harassment.
What the Settlement Requires
According to the city, the settlement obligates A&E to pay $2.1 million in civil penalties and restitution and to correct more than 4,000 Housing Code violations across the 14 properties. The agreement also includes binding injunctions designed to prevent further tenant harassment and to require sustained compliance from the landlord.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a news conference Friday in Queens.
City Officials React
Mayor Mamdani called the settlement a sign that his administration will hold negligent landlords accountable. "We want to make it clear to everyone in this city that no one is above the law," he said, adding that the intended outcome is the safety and well-being of tenants.
Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Dina Levy said the deal affects roughly 750 tenants and represents the largest settlement in the unit’s history. Levy noted the city retains additional enforcement tools — including intervention in distressed buildings and, in extreme cases, placing buildings into city-sponsored responsive management — if the landlord fails to comply.
Mamdani is sworn in as NYC mayor Jan. 1 on a pair of family Qurans.
Tenant Accounts
"For years, A&E has operated with callous disregard for those residing in its properties," Mamdani said, noting that the company has accumulated more than 140,000 total violations, including about 35,000 in the last year alone.
Tenant Diana De La Paz described prolonged elevator outages, persistent heating problems and infestations at her building, saying elevator shutdowns have "effectively imprisoned elderly and disabled tenants in their own homes." City leaders used such accounts to stress the urgency of enforcement and repairs.
Enforcement Plans and Public Hearings
City Council Member Shekar Krishnan, who represents Jackson Heights, urged robust enforcement, saying tenants’ rights mean little without follow-through. Mayor Mamdani also announced plans for "rental ripoff" hearings in each of the five boroughs within the first 100 days of the administration to gather resident testimony and shape future enforcement and policy.
A&E Real Estate Statement
A spokesperson for A&E Real Estate said the company has been investing in properties it acquires — replacing boilers, rehabbing elevators and addressing longstanding violations — and that it has agreed on a repair plan with the housing department that it is implementing. The company said it looks forward to partnering with the city to improve conditions and invest in New York City’s housing stock.
What Comes Next
The city’s immediate priority is ensuring that the agreed repairs are completed and that tenants are protected from harassment. Officials warned that failure to meet settlement terms could prompt additional legal action or direct city intervention to protect residents.
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