Brooklyn Tenants Sue DHCR to Block Drastic Rent Hikes Amid Inhumane Living Conditions 

Following a powerful rally on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall, tenants of Rutland Plaza marched to Brooklyn Supreme Court today to challenge drastic rent hikes imposed amid ongoing, unlivable housing conditions. The tenants, represented by Legal Services NYC’s Tenants Rights Coalition, have filed suit against the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) for approving rent increases of up to $1,000 per month while allowing their landlord to continue neglecting essential repairs. 

Photos and videos from the event, as well as building conditions, can be found here. 

“It’s egregious the rent increases they’re putting on us while we live in disrepair,” said Larissa Assogba, a tenant of Rutland Plaza. “The condition of the building is horrible. It was developed as a Mitchell-Lama rental which means it was supposed to provide quality, affordable housing for folks in Brownsville. But DHCR has failed to hold our landlord accountable and the building has fallen into disrepair. We demand an explanation for why they would allow this.” 

Tenants describe an escalating pattern of mismanagement and neglect by their landlord, Robyn Lucas-Cora, and her affiliates, 93rd St Associates L.P. and The Amistad Management Corp. Despite receiving government funding for repairs in 2016, the landlord has failed to address critical issues, while DHCR has rubber-stamped their request for astronomical rent hikes without imposing any conditions for rehabilitation. 

“I’ve seen flooding, dirty water, and a stench that took over the whole lobby and feces near the laundromat where people have to wash their clothes,” said tenant Desaria Julien-Raale. “And we also deal with flooding in people’s apartments. That’s inhumane, unhealthy, and unsafe. We need proper management for the building and for these issues to be resolved because our health is at risk.” 

Since the lawsuit was filed, the landlord has escalated harassment tactics—removing tenant association flyers, restricting access to the community room, and further neglecting essential repairs in an attempt to suppress tenant organizing. 

“We are not just arguing that the rent increase makes this ‘affordable’ housing unaffordable—which it does—nor are we just arguing that it’s outrageous to force tenants to pay $700-$1000 a month more while they endure black mold and standing raw sewage, although of course it is,” said Kyla Raskin, an attorney with Legal Services NYC. “We’re challenging DHCR’s blatant abandonment of its own rent determination regulations. This black-box process allows landlords of Mitchell-Lama and subsidized housing properties to exploit tenants while pocketing public funds. Our clients are taking a stand to demand safe, livable housing and to hold DHCR accountable for its failure to protect low-income tenants.” 

Rutland Plaza tenants, organized by the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) and East Brooklyn Tenants Group HOPE, demand that DHCR immediately halt all rent increases until the landlord complies with housing and safety standards. They are calling on state and city officials to address the systemic failures that have left countless tenants across New York in deplorable conditions.