Bronx Tenants Suing Landlord Over 'Unlivable' Conditions
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- Tenants in the Bronx have filed a lawsuit against their landlord following reports of horrible conditions in the building.
Angry tenants protested outside a Bronx housing court Monday, railing against what they say are unlivable conditions inside a Mott Haven apartment building.
Public advocates are calling landlord Ved Parkash the worst landlord in the city.
"There's paint peeling off the walls, rats, roaches," tenant Dianne Manning told CBS2's Scott Rapoport.
The tenants are part of 38 neighbors who filed a lawsuit against Parkash for hundreds of Department of Housing Preservation and Development violations.
"The building shakes. Especially on the side that I live on. It's constantly vibrating in the building, where I don't feel safe," tenant Tracey Nelson said.
Another tenant said she has to cook on hot plates because there's no gas and there hasn't been for three weeks. She showed CBS2 the buckets she keeps under the sink to collect leaking water. There's also an exposed hole in her ceiling.
CBS2 ventured into the laundry room where a huge gap in the floor could be seen. Tenants said that has been there for at least a couple of weeks.
Inspectors on scene from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development told CBS2 the floor just collapsed.
The building's super was tight-lipped saying, "Listen, listen. I no talk to nobody. I don't say nothing."
CBS2 attempted to contact Parkash for comment but was unable to reach him. His phone is not currently accepting messages. Tenants said something has to be done and fixes can't come soon enough.
Department of Housing Preservation and Development said they are working with the tenants' lawyers. They said workers responded to the building last month because of a sinkhole. There are currently 517 open violations in the building.