31 Inwood/Wash Heights Buildings On NYC’s 2023 'Worst Landlord' List

INWOOD, NY — Tenants of 31 Inwood and Washington Heights buildings have the unfortunate reality of living in properties owned by the 100 worst landlords in New York City during 2023, according to an annual 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 are the Inwood and Washington Heights buildings that are owned by a collection of the 100 worst landlords in NYC, according to the Public Advocate's Office:

709 West 170th St.

• Landlord: Johnathan Santana
• Number of HPD violations: 376

558 West 189th St.

• Landlord: David Tennenbaum
• Number of HPD violations: 94

638 West 160th St.

• Landlord: Juda Stern
• Number of HPD violations: 151

894 Riverside Dr.

• Landlord: Elliot Serouya
• Number of HPD violations: 266

725 West 172nd St.

• Landlord: George Huang
• Number of HPD violations: 154

273 Ft. Washington Ave.

• Landlord: George Huang
• Number of HPD violations: 120

650 West 172nd St.

• Landlord: George Huang
• Number of HPD violations: 107

3855 10th Ave.

• Landlord: George Huang
• Number of HPD violations: 81

3990 10 Ave.

• Landlord: George Huang
• Number of HPD violations: 81

716 West 180th St.

• Landlord: George Huang
• Number of HPD violations: 99

720 West 180th St.

• Landlord: George Huang
• Number of HPD violations: 97

620 West 182nd St.

• Landlord: George Huang
• Number of HPD violations: 90

2108 Amsterdam Ave.

• Landlord: Issaka Maiguzo
• Number of HPD violations: 92

534 West 159th St.

• Landlord: Sandy Poklar
• Number of HPD violations: 140

538 West 159th St.

• Landlord: Sandy Poklar
• Number of HPD violations: 139

532 West 159th St.

• Landlord: Sandy Poklar
• Number of HPD violations: 100

530 West 159th St.

• Landlord: Sandy Poklar
• Number of HPD violations: 65

600 West 157th St.

• Landlord: Tony Huang
• Number of HPD violations: 197

460 Audubon Ave.

• Landlord: Tony Huang
• Number of HPD violations: 144

645 West 160th St.

• Landlord: Aaron Jungreis
• Number of HPD violations: 278

655 West 160th St.

• Landlord: Scott Castellano
• Number of HPD violations: 80

200 Nagle Ave.

• Landlord: Rick Herman
• Number of HPD violations: 96

666 West 207th St.

• Landlord: Jennifer Perez
• Number of HPD violations: 82

132 Seaman Ave.

• Landlord: Jennifer Perez
• Number of HPD violations: 72

573 Isham St.

• Landlord: Michael Daniel
• Number of HPD violations: 181

560 West 160th St.

• Landlord: Jose Espinal
• Number of HPD violations: 145

972 St. Nicholas Ave.

• Landlord: Jose Espinal
• Number of HPD violations: 123

65 Ft. Washington Ave.

• Landlord: Smajlje Srdanovic
• Number of HPD violations: 150

1306 St. Nicholas Ave.

• Landlord: Smajlje Srdanovic
• Number of HPD violations: 139

4197 Broadway

• Landlord: Smajlje Srdanovic
• Number of HPD violations: 98

1520 St. Nicholas Ave.

• Landlord: Anh Do
• Number of HPD violations: 89

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 Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, whose office compiles the watchlist.

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.