Brooklyn Tenants Announce Rent Strike, Demand Urgent Repairs in Long-Neglected Buildings Now in Bankruptcy

Brooklyn, NY — Tenants of Homewood Gardens in Brooklyn today announced a rent strike, escalating their fight for safe and habitable living conditions after years of neglect—conditions that have persisted even under court-appointed management during the property’s ongoing bankruptcy case.

At a press conference held outside 651 Brooklyn Avenue, members of the Homewood Gardens Tenant Association detailed what they described as dangerous and deteriorating living conditions, including a lack of consistent heat and hot water, ongoing pest infestations, and structural disrepair throughout the buildings. Tenants say the situation reached a crisis point this past winter, when the court-appointed receiver failed to install a new boiler, leaving residents without reliable heat during a record-breaking cold season.

“In the kitchen, there are bugs living in the kitchen appliances,” said Theresa Thompson, a tenant.

“I’m from a tropical island where there’s only two seasons, sun and rain. And I ended up hating when it rains,” said Mr. Pilgram, another tenant who has dealt with ceiling leaks for years.

The buildings are currently overseen by court-appointed receivers Harry and Dean Horowitz, who assumed control following years of mismanagement by the previous owner. Tenants allege that under the receivership, essential repairs have been delayed or ignored, while some residents have received rent demands for payments they have already made.

Many residents of Homewood Gardens have lived in the buildings for decades and have been organizing collectively since the 1990s. Now, with conditions worsening and little progress in sight, tenants say they are prepared to escalate their campaign.

Tenants are calling for immediate repairs to apartments and building systems, formal leases for subtenants, and support from the City in identifying a responsible preservation purchaser who will invest in the property and its residents.

Councilwoman Rita Joseph joined tenants at the press conference, expressing support for their demands and calling attention to the urgent need for intervention.

“No family should be ignored when they report issues that affect their health, their safety and their quality of life,” Joseph said.

Following the event, tenants made their apartments available to members of the press to document current conditions firsthand. Supporters from across the neighborhood and members of other tenant organizations were also in attendance to show solidarity.

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About the Homewood Gardens Tenant Association
The Homewood Gardens Tenant Association represents residents across three buildings managed by Triboro Realty, LLC. The association advocates for safe, healthy, and affordable housing, and works to end landlord neglect and tenant harassment.

About Legal Services NYC (LSNYC)
Legal Services NYC fights poverty and advances racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. The organization provides critical legal assistance to help individuals and families secure housing, economic stability, education, health care, and immigration protections, while also challenging systemic inequities that perpetuate poverty.