Croman Tenants Get Another Chance For Cash: Attorney General

EAST VILLAGE, NY — New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday another opportunity for current and former tenants of landlord Steve Croman to apply for payments from a restitution fund.

James announced the second round of the Croman Tenant Restitution Fund Tuesday — a fund that allows tenants to get back money from Croman, the notorious landlord who spent time behind bars for tax fraud.

Croman, who owns buildings in the East Village and elsewhere in Manhattan and most recently bought the building where the White Horse Tavern is located, was required to pay $8 million into a fund for tenants under a consent decree in 2017 following an investigation into allegations of tenant harassment of rent-regulated tenants. It is the largest ever settlement with a landlord, per James's office.

"It's unconscionable for a landlord to unlawfully force a family from its home simply to improve his own bottom-line," James said in a statement. "I'm pleased that this settlement provides Croman tenants with long overdue restitution and additional protections. Unscrupulous landlords like Steve Croman are not above the law, and we remain committed to holding bad-acting landlords accountable for taking advantage of New Yorkers."

Checks are sent to eligible tenants over a 38- to 42-month period. Last year, the first round kicked-off, with households getting checks of $2,425, her office said.

Tenants are eligible if they lived in a Croman-owned building in a rent-regulated apartment between July 1, 2011 and December 20, 2017, they got a buyout less than $20,000 and no other tenant in the household got cash.

Though the exact amount of future payments may change, James's office said tenants who did not apply in the first round have until June 27 to apply. Those who applied in the first round are automatically approved for future payments and do not need to re-apply, her office said.

See here for additional information if you're a former or current Croman tenant.