Tenants fed up with their landlord for not making necessary repairs in their Prospect Heights building rallied in front of Kings County Housing Court as a trial began on Thursday.
Residents of 552 Dean St. have been on a rent strike for over a year after their landlord, Gilman Management Corp., tried to increase their rent despite failing to fix their units that have been plagued by pests, mold, leaks, lead paint and no heat for years, according to a press release.
The 552 Dean Street Tenants Association, supported by nonprofits TakeRoot Justice and Fifth Avenue Committee, initiated a Housing Preservation proceeding against Gilman Management in 2024 due to their failure to make necessary improvements. The landlord has 90 open Housing Preservation and Development violations, multiple Division of Housing and Community Renewal rent reduction orders and hundreds of complaints.
“I’ve been living at 552 Dean Street for 45 years,” said Beulah Towns, one of the tenant leaders. “Since Gilman Management has been in charge, overall maintenance has declined to poor or nonexistent."
There are eight apartments in the building where all of the tenants have been living for more than 30 years, Towns said.
"We’ve been exposed to vermin, plumbing issues, broken floors, security concerns, basement sewage and odor problems, no hallway cleaning, an overgrown yard, poor garbage service, cracking bricks, broken mailboxes, and roof leaks," Towns said. "We came together to fight against this cruelty to save ourselves and save the roof over our heads.”
Rex Santus, an attorney representing the tenants, said the tenants "are not asking for much- just a safe place to live."
“We shouldn’t have to resort to the courts to get that, but that’s the reality in New York City, and that’s why we’re here today," he said.
Tenants were joined by housing advocates, City Council Member Crystal Hudson and neighbors from 1616 President St., a building also owned by Gilman Management, who have also been on rent strike and are scheduled for trial.
