Tenants, elected officers and group advocates gathered in Sunnyside Monday morning for a rally in opposition to actual property agency Bronstein Properties to demand repairs and protected situations at a six-story constructing on forty seventh Avenue.
Meeting Member Claire Valdez, representatives for Council Member Julie Received, the Queens Tenant Coalition and the Bronstein Tenant Union gathered exterior 42-09 forty seventh Ave. on Feb. 2 to spotlight situations contained in the 84-unit constructing.
Residents accused Bronstein of neglecting tenants within the constructing by ignoring requires repairs inside the constructing or solely making “superficial” repairs that don’t deal with long-standing points, allegations which Bronstein strongly denies.
Sonu Kumari, who moved into the constructing in 2019, additionally took elected officers on a tour of her two-bedroom house on the sixth flooring to spotlight a number of the points she has been going through since transferring in. The tour revealed a big roach and fly infestation in Kumari’s kitchen, whereas a ceiling in one among her bedrooms has caved in on a number of events throughout heavy rainfall, making the room uninhabitable.
Stay roaches climb a cabinet in Kumari’s kitchen. Picture by Shane O’Brien
Kumari mentioned she suffered a bacterial an infection that left her hospitalized because of mildew infestations brought on by persistent leaks.
Suspected mildew. Picture by Shane O’Brien
Kumari accused Bronstein of solely making surface-level modifications to the house and alleged that the corporate has been gradual to react to requests for repairs. She charged that Bronstein took three years to restore a gap in a kitchen cabinet, which she mentioned was the supply of a roach, mice and bug infestation.
Lifeless bugs caught in a entice. Picture by Shane O’Brien
She additional alleged {that a} former constructing tremendous demanded cost to handle points inside her house. Fellow tenants made comparable allegations.
Kumari mentioned she has been sleeping on a mattress on the ground alongside her husband as a result of frequent ceiling collapses in a single bed room, whereas her kids have been sleeping in the lounge. She mentioned she stopped paying lease in late 2024 to protest in opposition to the situations in her house.
Flies caught in a entice in Kumari’s kitchen. Picture by Shane O’Brien
A spokesperson for Bronstein pushed again strongly in opposition to the allegations, stating that the corporate has undertaken “significant capital improvements” on the property. The true property agency additionally accused tenants, together with Kumari, of failing to supply entry to residences to facilitate repairs.
Nevertheless, tenants argued that Bronstein continuously arranges house inspections when residents are usually not residence. Kumari alleged that Bronstein can then declare that residents failed to supply entry.
“They just say that I’m not giving them access. That’s their only excuse,” Kumari mentioned via tears at Monday’s rally. “We’ve been giving them time to come and do the repairs.”
A Bronstein spokesperson additionally argued that the true property agency has requested tenants to stipulate particular issues in order that they are often addressed however mentioned tenants have failed to take action.
“Instead, the group continues to organize rallies that do not meaningfully involve or represent residents of Bronstein-managed buildings, in furtherance of a broader legislative agenda,” an organization spokesperson mentioned.
Tenants pushed again strongly, stating that they’ve lengthy been demanding particular repairs on the constructing.
Yvette Allen-Janis, a resident on the constructing, mentioned she moved into her house in 2013 and seen a leaky ceiling inside six months, including that the leak has not but been repaired.
Allen-Janis was in tears at a rally exterior the constructing as she mentioned Kumari’s dwelling situations, stating that the difficulty has been “horrific.”
“It just keeps getting worse and worse,” Allen-Janis mentioned.
In response, Bronstein officers mentioned the corporate accomplished repairs to the ceiling in Kumari’s house in August 2025 and haven’t obtained any communication since. Firm officers mentioned ongoing roach infestations are the results of sanitation points within the house, together with “improper” disposal of trash.
Kumari strongly refuted the argument, stating that she by no means leaves meals uncovered to keep away from any infestations. On a tour of her house, Kumari highlighted a number of holes in a bed room ceiling in addition to suspected mildew build-up. She once more described Bronstein’s efforts to handle the problems as “superficial,” accusing the corporate of failing to handle long-standing points chargeable for frequent leaks. She additionally accused the corporate of merely portray over suspected mildew somewhat than eradicating it fully.
A gap in a bed room ceiling, allegedly brought on by leaking throughout heavy rainfall. Picture by Shane O’Brien.
Residents at 42-09 forty seventh Ave. are usually not the primary Bronstein tenants in Sunnyside to rally in opposition to the true property agency.
In November, residents on the close by 43-09 fortieth St. rallied to demand what they described as long-overdue repairs on the 72-unit, prewar constructing. Tenants alleged on the rally that some models had been with out fuel for seven months, whereas some tenants launched into a lease strike on Oct. 1.
Bronstein mentioned on the time that it was working to revive fuel on the constructing, stating that the difficulty pertains to a defect requiring the corporate to re-pipe all 13 riser strains all through the constructing at a value of round $300,000. Bronstein mentioned on the time that the re-piping venture was 95% full and added that each one tenants will obtain a 15% lease abatement from the shutoff date till fuel is restored.
Nevertheless, residents who joined Monday’s rally in solidarity with tenants at 42-09 forty seventh Ave. mentioned fuel has not but been restored to all models within the constructing.
Dalia, a tenant at 43-09 fortieth St., mentioned at Monday’s rally that the 15% lease abatement was “not enough” and mentioned work to revive fuel is “not done.”
Once more, Bronstein strongly pushed again, stating that six models stay with out fuel as a result of a “single tenant” had blocked entry to facilitate repairs.
“Bronstein Properties remains committed to addressing verified issues promptly and to working cooperatively with residents, city agencies, and elected officials to ensure safe and habitable living conditions,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement.
However tenants and elected officers strongly criticized the corporate, noting that tenants throughout the agency’s 138-property portfolio have lodged over 42,000 complaints with town’s Division of Housing Preservation and Improvement (HPD).
Attendees at Monday’s rally held placards with slogans corresponding to “Don’t Rent from Bronstein,” whereas protesters additionally constantly chanted “no repairs, no rent” throughout Monday’s occasion.
Farah Salam, Received’s chief of workers and a tenant at one other Bronstein-owned property in Sunnyside, mentioned the corporate “continues to fail tenants” throughout its New York Metropolis portfolio.
“They refuse to make repairs to apartments,” Salam mentioned. “They refuse to maintain apartments so that they’re livable.”
She additional accused Bronstein of elevating rents by as much as $400 on market-rate residences whereas forcing tenants to reside in “substandard” situations. Kumari, on the time when she determined to cease paying lease, was paying $3,070 monthly for the two-bedroom house.
“Think twice before you rent from Bronstein,” Salam mentioned.
Farah Salam addresses the rally. Picture by Shane O’Brien.
In an announcement, Received famous that Bronstein has obtained over 18,000 HPD violations since 2017 and described the agency as one of the “notorious and predatory” landlords within the metropolis. She additionally famous tenant allegations claiming that Bronstein has responded to complaints with harassment and intimidation.
“No one should live without heat or gas, with mold and mice infestations or under constant threats of retaliation and displacement,” Received mentioned in an announcement. “Bronstein must immediately restore all essential services, complete repairs across all Sunnyside buildings using unionized labor, stop tenant harassment and maintain affordability so tenants can stay in their homes.”
Bronstein has beforehand described claims of tenant harassment as “unsubstantiated.”
Valdez, in the meantime, mentioned tenants at Bronstein properties “demand justice” after elevating a litany of complaints in opposition to the true property agency.
“We demand that Bronstein come to the table, make the repairs, stop acting like they should not have to invest in these properties and start treating their tenants with dignity and respect,” Valdez mentioned. “Tenants are starting to withhold their rent. This is the final, most powerful tool that tenants have.”
Meeting Member Claire Valdez speaks at Monday’s rally. Picture by Shane O’Brien.
