NEW YORK CITY – A Manhattan judge has ordered the arrest of Daniel Ohebshalom, one of the most notorious landlords in New York City, for failing to make court-ordered repairs at two Washington Heights properties. Ohebshalom, who topped the public advocate’s recent “worst landlords” list, faces up to two months in jail for repeatedly neglecting mandatory repairs, according to Judge Jack Stoller. This represents a rare instance of a landlord facing jail time for substandard living conditions.
Ohebshalom allegedly ignored scheduled appointments and failed to address nearly 700 violations across the two buildings, which include common areas and 42 apartments. Judge Stoller deemed his defiance to be particularly striking and unacceptable. As a result, the judge ordered the New York City Sheriff’s Office to collaborate with authorities in California, where Ohebshalom is believed to reside, to apprehend him and bring him to Manhattan for a 60-day jail stay.
The court’s decision comes after tenants and the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development filed a lawsuit against Ohebshalom. The lawsuit aimed to force him to remove lead paint, repair crumbling ceilings, and exterminate mice and roaches in the buildings located at 705 and 709 West 170th Street. The dire living conditions have persisted for years, compelling tenants to seek legal action.
Loyda Irizarry, a resident of 709 West 170th St. since the late 1990s, expressed her frustration with the ongoing issues in the building. Chronic heat outages and infestations of rats have plagued the tenants. Despite filing a lawsuit in 2022, Irizarry claims that repairs have not been made, leaving them in unacceptable living conditions. New York City Housing Director Leila Bozorg highlighted Ohebshalom’s long-standing neglect of the properties and failure to provide clean and stable homes for tenants.
This is not the first time Ohebshalom has faced penalties for his negligence. In October 2023, he was hit with fines totaling $4.2 million for operating an illegal hotel and maintaining deplorable conditions in a Hell’s Kitchen complex. The city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development also succeeded in appointing an administrator to take over management of the property, prohibiting Ohebshalom from collecting rent.
The arrest warrant for Ohebshalom demonstrates a rare instance of accountability for a landlord who has repeatedly overlooked the well-being of his tenants. As the court case continues, it remains to be seen whether Ohebshalom will make the necessary repairs to secure his release from jail. The tenants and their legal representatives are hopeful that this ruling will finally compel him to address the long-standing issues in the two buildings.