1 Chelsea Building Named On 'Worst Landlord' List For 2023

CHELSEA, NY — Tenants of one Chelsea building have the unfortunate reality of living in properties owned by the 100 worst landlords in New York City during 2023, according to new report published by city officials.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams on Wednesday released the "Worst Landlords Watchlist,” which uses public data on housing violations to highlight the property owners in the five boroughs who keep their buildings in the worst shape.

The list is based on the average number of open violations recorded at each building between December 2022 and November 2023, according to the city's housing department.

Here is the Chelsea building that is owned by one of the 100 worst landlords in NYC, according to the Public Advocate's Office:

62 7 Ave.

• Landlord: Magdalena Kosz
• Number of HPD violations: 43

Johnathan Santana claimed the dubious title of "Worst Landlord" for the second year running, according to 2023's list.

And Santana isn't just any repeat top offender on the annual 100 Worst Landlords in NYC — he and his boss, notorious accused slumlord Daniel Ohebshalom, shared a new record for average open violations in the list's history at nearly 3,300, said Williams' office.

Santana set the previous record last year at roughly 3,000.

"Johnathan Santana and Daniel Ohebshalom may be shameless in their negligence and predatory practices, as is clear in their record violations, but it’s clear that spotlighting and shaming them and other worst landlords in the city can have meaningful impact," Williams said in a statement.

The Worst Landlords Watchlist is designed to be a tool for tenants, advocates and officials to spot property owners who flout laws.

Ohebshalom has been a fixture on the list for years — a distinction that arguably helped bring official scrutiny to longstanding tenant claims his buildings are filled with rodents, burst pipes and even mushrooms growing out of walls.

Scrutiny led to legal action by city officials, who this year won $4 million in three lawsuits against him.

Santana worked as the designated head officer for Ohebshalom, according to the watchlist.
Ohebshalom's attorney Simon Reiff didn't return a call for comment.

The new list comes just days after a Bronx building with a history of violations partially collapsed. The building's head officer is affiliated with the 50th-worst landlord on the list, according to information provided by the public advocate's office.

See the full list here.

-With reporting by Matt Troutman.