Inwood Tenants Sue Landlord Over Needed Repairs After Major Fire

INWOOD, NY — Almost three months after an extensive fire broke out at 74 Post Ave., 23-rent stabilized tenants of the Inwood building are suing their landlord for failing to repair damage caused by the blaze.

The tenants, who haven't been able to return to their apartments since the fire struck Jan. 5, are living in shelters, with family and friends, subletting other apartments, or in hotels at their own cost.

The suit — filed Tuesday against landlord George Huang, who runs The Heights Real Estate Co. — alleges that Huang is trying to push them out of their apartments permanently so he can renovate the spaces and charge a higher rate to new buyers.

The Heights Real Estate Co. did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.

The Manhattan Legal Services' Tenant Rights Coalition is representing the displaced residents of 74 Post Ave.

"This has all been so upsetting," Lina Baez, a tenant in the building, said in a news release. "This has been my home for the past 30 years and we have no idea when we'll be able to move back in. My husband and I are subletting an apartment right now, but many elderly tenants are in shelters. This has also been incredibly rough on my elderly mother who is staying with her sister right now."

The Jan. 5 fire started on the top floor of the six-floor building and burned for nearly four hours before 138 firefighters were able to put it out, according to the FDNY.

Big fire INWOOD NYC pic.twitter.com/un88zc1gvX
— Engels R Gutierrez (@gutizano) January 6, 2021

“It’s like everything has been turned upside down,” said Jose Moreno, a Spanish-speaking tenant and father of three who has lived in the building for the past 25 years with his wife, in the news release. “There are five of us in a hotel right now and have little clothes, commodities, or other items. It’s very uncomfortable. The worst part was when three of us got Covid and we had to socially distance ourselves from our son which was hard in this small hotel room. "

The lawsuit calls on NYC Housing Court to order Huang to assist with the relocation costs and to repair all outstanding building violations so tenants can safely return to their homes.

Some of the damage includes an open roof, charred wood joists, open ceilings, unbraced fire-rated walls, smoke and water damage throughout the building, lack of electricity, gas, water, and asbestos.

The suit has the support of major Upper Manhattan elected officials, including New York state Sen. Robert Jackson and Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez.

“I fully support the Housing Part action Manhattan Legal Services has filed on behalf of the tenants of 74 Post Avenue,” Jackson said in a news release. “The legal team has gone above and beyond! The Heights Real Estate Company, on the other hand, was negligent in allowing this fire to happen in the first place, ignoring tenant concerns about the electrical wiring. They were negligent in their initial response to the fire, failing to provide security or keep tenants or their possessions safe."

“The fire at 74 Post Avenue upended the lives of many of the tenants. We need to make sure that they are receiving all of the support necessary during these difficult times," Rodriguez said in the news release. "We cannot allow any landlord to push tenants out of their homes for their own personal gain."

Read More:

• Massive Fire Breaks Out On Top Floor Of Inwood Building: FDNY
• 2 Fundraisers Started For Residents Affected By Large Inwood Fire