Newark Sues Accused ‘Bad Landlord’ As City Ramps Up Enforcement Crackdown

NEWARK, NJ — The City of Newark has launched a milestone lawsuit in its ongoing attempt to weed out “bad landlords,” Mayor Ras Baraka announced this week.

According to the mayor’s office, the city has filed a five-count lawsuit against NJ Best Management LLC and 380 South 6th Street LLC.

The mayor accused the limited liability company of owning, operating and controlling a multi-unit residential property in a manner that “exploits its renters, puts their health, safety and welfare at risk, and defies rent control, maintenance, housing, health and safety requirements codified in our city ordinances.”

Baraka said the city has tried to work cooperatively on coordinated inspections and the development of a corrective-action plan.

“Despite the city’s willingness to partner for the benefit of the residents, the property owners have chosen to perpetuate health and safety violations while imposing illegal rent hikes – in some cases in exceeding five percent,” he alleged.

‘BAD LANDLORDS’ IN NEWARK

Earlier this year, Baraka declared that Newark would be putting a spotlight on irresponsible property owners by including them on a list of the city’s “worst non-compliant landlords.”

“Despite a full arsenal of building regulations and codes, Newark residents, as well as city administrators and enforcers, have long been at the mercy of irresponsible landlords who are quick to collect the rent but slow to correct unsafe and unlivable conditions in their buildings,” Baraka previously said.

• Related: ‘Newark’s Worst Landlords’: City Will Compile Annual List, Mayor Says

According to the mayor’s office, conditions for landing on the list include mismanagement that results in three violations within 12 months for a single address, or five violations within 12 months for landlords with multiple properties.

Baraka mentioned the ongoing campaign during his annual state of the city address in April, releasing the names of several companies that were named to the inaugural list:

• Villa Victoria – 2–54 Cutler Street (Hudson Valley Property Group)
• Pilgrim Village – 291–319 18th Avenue (Hudson Valley Property Group)
• Colonnade Apartments – 23–59 Clifton Avenue (The Colonnade Group)
• 87–101 Chancellor Avenue (Boomer LLC / Boomer 25 Van Velsor LLC)
• 509–519 Mt. Prospect Avenue (FHTDD)

Once a landlord is placed on the list, a full year must pass before the status can be reevaluated. View the current list here.

Tenants in Newark can report unsatisfactory living conditions to the Division of Code Enforcement by calling 973-733-3813.

• Related: Corporations Own Most Of Newark’s Homes. New Laws Are Pushing Back
• Related: Newark Landlord Denied Housing To Section 8 Holders, NJAG Says
• Related: Here’s Why Rent Is ‘So Damned High’ In New Jersey, Rutgers Experts Say

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