Bronx Landlord Caught Blacklisting Tenants: A Wake-Up Call for New York Housing

BRONX, N.Y. — Parkchester Preservation Management, LLC — the rental giant behind more than 6,000 apartments in the Bronx — has been caught red-handed violating tenant protection laws. In a decisive move, New York Attorney General Letitia James has brought the hammer down on the company for illegally denying rental applications based on prospective tenants’ past housing court records.

This crackdown reignites the conversation around tenant blacklisting, a practice that was outlawed in New York in 2019. Under the Real Property Law §227-f, landlords are barred from rejecting tenants due to previous disputes with landlords, yet Parkchester Management continued the practice, defying the law and the rights it enshrines.

The Illegal Practice Uncovered

The Attorney General’s investigation revealed Parkchester Management had been systematically pulling housing court records and using them to deny applicants — a direct violation of state law. They even sent out rejection letters admitting that housing court records were reviewed during the decision process. It wasn’t just policy; it was written proof of discrimination.

The OAG also found that during interviews, the company asked tenants probing questions suggesting they were screening applicants based on eviction history or rent disputes. Questions like “Have you ever been evicted?” and “Have you ever intentionally refused to pay rent or broken a lease?” were routine — and now deemed illegal.

As part of the settlement, Parkchester Management agreed to end these practices. They must allow previously rejected applicants to reapply, remove unlawful questions from applications, and affirm compliance with fair housing laws on their platforms. Their staff will undergo mandatory training to prevent future violations. If they break the terms again, the Attorney General’s Office has reserved the right to take them to court.

Context: A Law with Teeth

Tenant blacklisting has long haunted New York City renters, particularly in boroughs like the Bronx, where affordable housing is scarce and eviction proceedings are disproportionately filed. In 2019, legislators responded with the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA). Section 227-f of the law created a rebuttable presumption: if a landlord accessed court records and denied a tenant, it’s assumed the denial was illegal unless they can prove otherwise.

This case is the first high-profile enforcement under that law in months and sends a loud message: tenant blacklisting won’t be tolerated, regardless of the landlord’s size.

Political and Social Ramifications

Attorney General James didn’t mince words.

“Using housing court records as a basis to deny housing is discriminatory and against the law,” she said. “My office will continue to fight back against these unfair practices.”

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson echoed that sentiment. “At a time when our city is facing a housing crisis, it is imperative that we hold landlords accountable,” she said.

New York is currently facing a record shortage of affordable housing. The added barrier of blacklisting exacerbates the crisis for thousands of renters, particularly low-income individuals who may have prior court records solely for defending their rights.

The implications extend beyond the Bronx. This case sets a precedent for how tenant rights will be enforced throughout the city. With many landlords still using tenant screening services that report court filings — not just judgments — the potential for similar lawsuits looms large.

A Broader Pattern of Accountability

This isn’t the first time Attorney General James has gone after bad actors in the housing space.

In August 2025, she filed a lawsuit against Zara Realty in Queens for overcharging rent-stabilized tenants and flouting stabilization laws. Earlier in the year, her office recovered more than $50,000 in overcharges and re-regulated 21 illegally deregulated apartments. In September 2024, another sweep restored rent protections to 263 units.

James’ focus is clear: housing justice isn’t optional, and violations will come with a cost.

What Landlords Need to Know

The message is also aimed at the broader landlord community. The Office of the Attorney General urges all landlords to stop requesting tenant court records entirely. Landlords who continue to partner with tenant screening companies that provide court record data could be exposing themselves to future lawsuits.

In short, ignorance of the law won’t protect you. Compliance is mandatory.

Landlords are being urged to proactively adjust their application processes, retrain their leasing staff, and audit their partnerships with tenant screening bureaus. Transparency, fairness, and legality aren’t just best practices anymore — they’re legal requirements.

For Tenants: Know Your Rights

Tenants who believe they’ve been denied housing because of past court cases are encouraged to file a complaint directly with the Attorney General’s Office. The form is available online and does not require legal representation.

This case should serve as a reminder to renters: past disputes, including defending yourself in eviction court, can no longer be used to blacklist you. It’s the law.

Conclusion

Parkchester Preservation Management’s violation isn’t just a one-off scandal. It represents a broader, persistent tension in New York’s rental market — between power and protection, profit and fairness.

Thanks to the vigilance of Attorney General Letitia James and the tools provided by the 2019 housing reform laws, that balance is shifting.

Landlords have been warned. And renters are watching.

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If you’ve been denied housing based on a prior court dispute, file a complaint with the New York Attorney General’s Office at ag.ny.gov.

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