New York Attorney General Letitia James has reached a settlement with Parkchester Preservation Management, LLC, a Bronx landlord, after an investigation found the company illegally denied housing to prospective tenants based on their housing court records. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) determined that Parkchester Management both obtained and used these records in rental decisions and informed applicants that such records were reviewed as part of their application process.
Attorney General James stated, “Every New Yorker deserves a fair chance at finding safe, affordable, and stable housing without being denied based on outdated or irrelevant information. Using housing court records as a basis to deny housing is discriminatory and against the law. My office will continue to fight back against these unfair practices and stop landlords from illegally rejecting prospective tenants.”
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson added, “I want to thank Attorney General Letitia James for acting swiftly to hold Parkchester Preservation Management, LLC accountable. At a time when our city is facing a housing crisis, it is imperative that we hold landlords accountable when they engage in discriminatory practices against prospective tenants.”
Tenant blacklisting—using past landlord-tenant court cases as grounds for denying rental applications—was prohibited in 2019 by changes to New York’s Real Property Law under the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA). Under this law, if there is evidence that a landlord accessed an applicant’s court records before denying them housing, it is presumed the denial was illegal unless proven otherwise by the landlord.
The OAG’s investigation revealed that Parkchester Management not only checked some applicants’ court histories but also asked questions suggesting reliance on those records during tenant screening. As part of the settlement agreement, Parkchester Management will end these screening practices. Applicants previously denied for these reasons may re-apply for housing.
Additionally, Parkchester Management must publicly confirm its compliance with anti-discrimination laws on its website and leasing platforms. The company will remove questions about prior evictions or rent payment refusals from all applications and interviews. Staff members are required to undergo training on tenant blacklisting regulations and fair housing laws. Should further violations occur, OAG retains the right to pursue enforcement actions up to litigation.
The OAG advises landlords not to request potential tenants’ court histories or maintain relationships with tenant screening bureaus providing such information. Individuals who believe they have been denied apartments due to previous legal disputes with landlords are encouraged to submit complaints online with OAG.
This action follows other recent initiatives by Attorney General James aimed at protecting tenant rights in New York State. In August 2025, her office partnered with state officials in filing suit against Zara Realty Holding Corp., alleging repeated violations of rent stabilization laws in Queens neighborhoods Jamaica and Elmhurst. Earlier this year, her office announced re-regulation of several rent-stabilized apartments and restitution for overcharged tenants; similar efforts took place in September 2024 regarding illegally deregulated units.
Assistant Attorney General Jane Landry-Reyes handled this matter within the Housing Protection Unit led by Brent Meltzer under Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
