As more than 5,000 rent-stabilized units connected to the Pinnacle Group prepare to go up for auction in 2026, residents warn would-be buyers not to overlook the years of disrepair that made those units unlivable.
In New York City, more than 5,000 rent-stabilized units connected to the Pinnacle Group will go up for auction in 2026. Residents who live in those properties are warning would-be buyers not to overlook the years of disrepair that made those units unlivable.
For years, tenants in these properties have lived with broken elevators, mold, power outages, lack of heating, and pest problems. And some residents have been on rent strike for more than a year, demanding that repairs be made. “I realized that paying rent to this landlord is like rewarding neglect,” said Jon Deliz at a rally last month in front of his home. “It wasn’t until I went on rent strike that suddenly calls are getting returned and repairs started getting done."
In this article, Shelterforce and Next City reporter Roshan Abraham talks with several residents about their experiences and struggles for safe housing. Abraham also digs deep on Pinnacle's problematic housing history and explores what's to come for residents and the properties in question.
Read the full story: Rats, Faulty Heating, and Mushrooms on the Ceiling: Inside the Fight Against Pinnacle
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