We are fighting unjust rent overcharges, unfair submetering, excessive electric charges, monopoly exploitation, landlord harassment, deadly electrical fires, and decades-long failures to maintain our apartments in a condition fit for human habitation.
Tenants across multiple L+M properties are organizing together because the problems we face are not isolated. The same patterns of excessive charges, unsafe conditions, poor maintenance, harassment, and neglect affect thousands of residents across our buildings. By organizing together, documenting what is happening, and speaking with one voice, we are asserting our rights and demanding an end to the rip-offs, harassment, unsafe conditions, and neglect that have gone on for far too long.
Tenants demand an end to unfair submetering practices, excessive electric charges, double billing for electricity, collection harassment, harassing phone calls, and baseless threats of service termination. We are demanding transparent, accurate billing based on actual meter readings, fair rates comparable to those available to similarly situated residential customers, and an end to inflated and unjustified utility charges.
Learn About the Submetering CaseTenants have reported dangerous electrical conditions, including defective wiring, overheating equipment, meter problems, and electrical fires.
Tenants demand immediate inspections, proper repairs, full disclosure of known fire hazards, and safe electrical systems that do not put tenants and their families at risk of death or serious injury.
Documents and updates coming soonTenants have experienced repeated heat, hot-water, and water-service failures, including prolonged outages and apartments that cannot maintain legally required temperatures.
Under New York City law, residential building owners must provide hot water 365 days a year at a constant minimum temperature of 120°F. During New York City’s heat season, from October 1 through May 31, apartments must be maintained at a minimum of 68°F between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM whenever the outside temperature falls below 55°F, and at a minimum of 62°F between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM regardless of the outside temperature.
Tenants demand reliable water, heat, and hot water; prompt repairs when service fails; and full compliance with the landlord’s legal obligation to maintain our homes in a safe and habitable condition.
Tenants have reported recurring leaks, water intrusion, visible and hidden mold, damaged walls and ceilings, and repairs that are delayed, incomplete, or fail to correct the underlying source of moisture. Exposure to damp and moldy conditions is associated with respiratory symptoms and infections, asthma attacks and worsening asthma, allergic reactions, sinus and nasal symptoms, skin irritation and eczema, and, in susceptible people, more serious lung disease.
Tenants demand prompt investigation of leaks and moisture, correction of their underlying causes, proper mold remediation, replacement of damaged building materials where necessary, and repairs that eliminate the problem rather than simply painting or plastering over it.
Tenants repeatedly report maintenance problems that are ignored, delayed, or addressed with temporary and inadequate repairs. Residents describe apartments without reliable heat, broken heaters and appliances, damaged floors and walls, recurring mold and mildew, pest infestations, dirty common areas, and poor elevator service. Many tenants say they must make the same repair requests over and over because underlying problems are never properly corrected. In some cases, tenants report that required repairs remain undone even after Housing Court orders have been issued.
Tenants have experienced repeated elevator outages, delayed repairs, and unsafe or unreliable elevator service. Elevator failures are especially dangerous for seniors, people with disabilities, families with young children, and residents who depend on elevators to reach their homes safely. Being trapped in an elevator can also cause intense fear, panic, acute stress, and lasting anxiety or claustrophobia, particularly when confinement involves darkness, excessive heat, prolonged delays, or fear of a fall or other mechanical failure.
Tenants demand reliable elevators, prompt repairs, regular preventive maintenance, and safe building systems that do not place residents at physical or psychological risk.
Tenants have reported recurring infestations of roaches, bed bugs, rodents, and other pests, sometimes despite repeated requests for treatment. Pest problems are often made worse by leaks, cracks, deteriorated walls, trash conditions, and inadequate building maintenance.
Tenants demand prompt and effective extermination, treatment of the underlying conditions that allow infestations to spread, proper follow-up after complaints, and safe, sanitary apartments and common areas.
Tenants have reported aggressive collection efforts, repeated phone calls as often as twice a day, threatening notices of electric-service termination and lease termination, and other pressure connected to disputed charges and tenant organizing. Residents should not be intimidated for questioning bills, reporting unsafe conditions, participating in tenant meetings, or asserting their legal rights.
Tenants demand an end to harassment, retaliation, coercive collection tactics, and threats designed to pressure residents into paying disputed charges or remaining silent about conditions in their homes.
Official notices from the committee. Newest events first.
In front of Schomburg Plaza, 1295 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10029
Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 1:00 PM–3:00 PM
Tenants from our buildings will come together to protest unfair submetering, excessive electric charges, collection harassment, unsafe electrical conditions, and the continuing failure to properly maintain our homes. Join your neighbors and make your voice heard.
Community Voices Heard, 1735 Park Avenue, Suite 2-A, New York, NY
Time: To Be Confirmed
Tenants are invited to attend a Community Voices Heard organizing and training meeting. The meeting will provide tenants an opportunity to learn more about organizing, building tenant power, and working together effectively.
Tenant leaders from four L+M developments are continuing their legal challenge to the Public Service Commission’s approval of submetering. The case is now on appeal to the Appellate Division, Third Department in Albany, NY. Meanwhile, tenants continue to receive disputed electricity bills and collection demands while the legal challenge proceeds.
Learn About the Submetering CaseAre you experiencing problems with electric billing, submetering, heat, hot water, mold, leaks, pests, elevators, repairs, harassment, or other conditions in your building? Or would you like to get involved in tenant organizing?
Tell us what is happening. Tenant reports help us identify recurring problems, document conditions across our buildings, and organize residents to demand solutions.
Join our tenant contact list to receive important updates about meetings, protests, organizing campaigns, building conditions, submetering, litigation, settlements, and other issues affecting tenants. We communicate by email and text message so residents can quickly learn about important developments and upcoming actions.