NYC’s ‘worst landlord’ indicted for harassing rent-regulated tenants

NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — The city’s “worst landlord,” Daniel Ohebshalom, was indicted Wednesday for allegedly harassing his rent-regulated tenants living in “horrific conditions,” officials said.

Ohebshalom allegedly neglected his buildings to force out rent-regulated tenants and filed fake documents with city agencies to hide his ownership of the buildings, court officials said.

He owned five Manhattan buildings that had a variety of violations including, no heat or hot water in the winter, persistent leaks that caused the roof to collapse, and building front doors without locks, officials said.

In March, Ohebshalom served a 60-day sentence at Rikers Jail for failing to address those violations.

“As alleged, Daniel Ohebshalom took advantage of rent-regulated tenants living in five Manhattan apartment buildings by creating dangerous living conditions in an effort to push them out. New Yorkers deserve to live in their apartments without fearing for their safety,” said District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Ohebshalom was charged with eight counts of Harassment of a Rent Regulated Tenant in the First Degree, 29 counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, and three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Charline Charles is a digital journalist from Brooklyn who has covered local news along with culture and arts in the New York City area since 2019. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.