The Bronx, NY — Chestnut Holdings, a prominent landlord in New York City, faces accusations of attempting to illegally evict tenants from a rent-stabilized building at 1292 Washington Avenue in the Bronx. Tenants and local advocates are raising alarms over allegations that the company is engaging in unauthorized lockouts without court orders, a violation of New York housing laws.
On October 29, 2024, a superintendent at the property was allegedly instructed by Chestnut Holdings’ management team to change the locks on an apartment where a family has lived for more than a decade. The tenant family, embroiled in a long-standing legal dispute with 1288 LLC—a limited liability company managed under Chestnut Holdings—called 911 when they found themselves locked out. According to court documents and sources, the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) had previously ruled in favor of the tenants in 2021, finding the landlord guilty of overcharging them rent for years. Despite the ruling, the landlord has been accused of ongoing harassment.
When officers from the NYPD arrived at the scene on Tuesday, October 29, they confronted the building’s superintendent, identified only as Junior. The police informed Junior that if he did not restore the locks immediately, he would be arrested for performing an illegal lockout. Junior complied and put the locks back, but he reportedly told the police that he had been ordered by the management company to carry out the lockout, even though there was no court order for eviction. “We even tried to move out once if they paid us all the rent overcharge DHCR ordered them to pay, but the landlord didn’t want to pay us, so we stayed,” said a tenant who requested to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. “Ever since then, 1288 LLC and Chestnut Holdings have been harassing us nonstop.”
Tenants in New York City cannot legally be evicted without a court order, and rent-stabilized tenants are guaranteed the right to lease renewals. Despite these protections, the family says they have been subject to repeated harassment, including threats of non-renewal and attempts to deny the DHCR-ordered rent repayment. The management company has allegedly made multiple efforts to change the locks, putting the tenants at risk of homelessness.
The Continent Post, which first reported on the incident, revealed that 1288 LLC has attempted similar illegal evictions in the past. Despite repeated inquiries from media outlets, Chestnut Holdings has yet to provide a statement or comment on the allegations.
The latest incident has sparked outrage among tenant advocates, who emphasize that no family should live in fear of being locked out of their home. “This type of harassment is unacceptable, and it underscores the urgent need for stronger tenant protections and enforcement,” said a local housing activist.
New York City housing laws are clear: tenants cannot be evicted without due process, and any attempt to circumvent this by landlords is a serious offense. Housing rights advocates are now calling on city officials to investigate Chestnut Holdings and ensure tenants’ safety and well-being. As the community watches closely, the case serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles rent-stabilized tenants face in a city where housing rights remain a contentious battleground.