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City of Rochester seeks massive fines against code-flouting landlord
This multifamily property on Thurston Road in Rochester is one of 13 listed in a petition against a New Jersey-based landlord. The property has 21 unabated code violations, according to a court filing. (Photo by Kevin Oklobzija)
This multifamily property on Thurston Road in Rochester is one of 13 listed in a petition against a New Jersey-based landlord. The property has 21 unabated code violations, according to a court filing. (Photo by Kevin Oklobzija)
City of Rochester seeks massive fines against code-flouting landlord
Listen to this articleAn out-of-state property owner known for habitually ignoring orders to alleviate serious code violations has drawn the ire of the city of Rochester’s law department.
Tal Levi of Harrington Park, New Jersey, owns 13 rental properties, primarily in lower-income neighborhoods, through five different limited liability companies, according to a petition filed in state Supreme Court in Monroe County.
None of the properties have a valid certificate of occupancy and there are a total of 536 open code violations cited by city housing inspectors. Of those, 214 “directly impact health and safety” and 125 are deemed “an immediate hazard,” according to the court filing by Michael Furlano, the city attorney who focuses on housing cases.
Because Levi, according to the petition, “systematically and flagrantly” has ignored code enforcement efforts while still collecting rent, the city wants the court to approve per-day fines of more than $250,000 and appoint a receiver who be be authorized to use tenant rent payments to make repairs.
The fines would be based on the city charter that allows for a penalty of up to $500 per violation per day.
When the properties are occupied, tenants face safety hazards, the petition says. When they are vacant, they are community hazards due to illegal activities.
Of the properties owned by Levi through BPG R2 LLC, BPG R3 LLC, BPG R4 LLC, BPG R5 LLC and BPG R6 LLC, 1-11 Penhurst St. has 119 open violations; 758-762 Genesee St. has 98 open violations.
“The city has ticketed many of the properties in an effort to spur Mr. Levi to abate open and hazardous code violations,” the petition says. “Nothing has worked to compel him or his LLCs to make sufficient repairs.
“The city is concerned that Mr. Levi has neither the means nor the motivation to repair the properties to a habitable standard as required by law since he amassed this portfolio of properties. His track record for maintaining properties in the city of Rochester is dismal at best.”
In August and September of 2023, the city initiated demolition hearings on three properties owned by Levi due to dangerous and/or public nuisance conditions.
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