New York City’s Worst Landlord Watch List

The New York City’s Worst Landlord Watch List 2.0, released on Tuesday, includes 358 buildings and 317 landlords, a reduction from the 2010 list.

Initiated by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, the buildings on the list have a minimum of two serious violations determined by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, such as inadequate fire exits, rodents, or lead-based paint.

De Blasio said that 176 buildings were removed from the 2010 list after landlords made improvements. One such building is 2254 Crotona Ave., Bronx, improving from 990 infractions to a mere 6.

“We’ve helped to successfully pressure landlords to improve the safety and living conditions for thousands of New Yorkers,” said de Blasio.

The watch list exposes negligent landlords to both protect tenants and warn apartment hunters. Over 250,000 visitors have accessed the site since 2010, and it’s now a feature on Craigslist.