Syracuse landlord hit with heavy sanctions for dangerous living conditions

A Syracuse landlord has been severely sanctioned by a New York state court and ordered to pay more than $150,000 for failing to address significant code violations at its properties.

The court found Green National and its owner, Troy Green, in civil and criminal contempt of court for disobeying a previous court order to comply with an agreement with the New York attorney general, according to a press release.

As a result of the contempt, Green has been ordered to pay $152,000 in criminal contempt fines and $250 in civil contempt fines. If he fails to pay by Sept. 11, he could face 30 days in jail. 

The court has also permanently barred Green from owning, operating, or managing affordable housing properties in New York. Additionally, Green National is required to pay $299,000 in penalties for violations that were not timely corrected as per the agreement with OAG.

The violations at Green’s properties included poor security, broken elevators, missing or inoperable smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, roach infestations, and plumbing leaks, among others. 

In February 2022, Green National reached an agreement with the Attorney General’s office to address code violations and pay a $300,000 penalty. However, the company failed to comply with the terms, leading to a lawsuit in October 2022, which resulted in further penalties.

Attorney General Letitia James emphasized that the court order sends a clear message that landlords must uphold the law.

“This decision sends a clear message that landlords who repeatedly ignore the law and let tenants live in awful conditions will not be let off the hook,” James said in a statement. “Tenants at Green’s properties were forced to live in unsafe and unsanitary conditions for too long. New Yorkers deserve to live in dignity, and we will continue to do our job to make sure they are protected.”

Green National isn’t the only Syracuse landlord in James’ sights.

Syracuse landlord Todd L. Hobbs and his companies — TLH Holdings and TLH Properties — were sued recently by James for alleged repeated violations of lead safety laws at more than a dozen properties.

Dating back to 2016, Hobbs’ companies have violated lead safety laws 413 times at 19 different properties, according to a press release. At least 11 children have been poisoned by lead while residing in these properties, the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit alleges that Hobbs consistently violated city, county, state, and federal laws by neglecting to address lead paint hazards and not following regulations for safe lead paint repairs and risk communication to tenants. Despite multiple citations for lead paint violations, Hobbs failed to take appropriate action at his rental properties.