LSNYC Secures Safe and Accessible Housing for Bronx Tenants, Settlement Award 

In a victory for tenants’ rights, Legal Services NYC helped tenants of 99 Marble Hill Avenue in the Bronx win a settlement that will significantly improve their quality of life. 

For years, tenants had been living with hazardous and dangerous conditions thanks to the neglect of their landlord, Nussbaum Realty Company LLC, including a defective elevator, broken boiler, frequent leaks, mold, and rodent infestations. And for some residents, particularly the elderly and those with mobility issues, these problems made their homes inaccessible. 

LSNYC sued Nussbaum Realty and later moved for civil and criminal contempt after they failed to make the court ordered repairs. Now, thanks to LSNYC’s expert advocacy and tenants’ resilience, the landlord settled, agreeing to:  

• correcting all violations in the tenants’ apartments and common areas, including comprehensive elevator repairs and boiler inspections; 

• Paying each client represented in the contempt a 100% rent abatement for eight months; 
• Hiring full-time janitor as required by law, ensuring proper maintenance moving forward;  

• An agreement to install ramps at the main entrance, a crucial improvement for elderly tenants and those with mobility issues;  

• An agreement to pay an additional 15% rent abatement to tenants while elevator repairs are being made, acknowledging the inconvenience they may face. 

The victory at 99 Marble Hill Avenue demonstrates the impact of persistent, strategic legal advocacy in protecting tenants’ rights and improving living conditions for New York City’s most vulnerable residents.  

• Read more about problems in the building in The Riverdale Press 
• Read the settlement here.