Predatory Landlord Asaf Elkayam Busted by NY AG

New York Attorney General Letitia James has halted the predatory practices of landlord Asaf Elkayam, who rented to University at Albany students. Elkayam’s company, Jerusalem Management, was found guilty of overcharging tenants on application fees, imposing exorbitant cleaning and late fees, and allowing workers into apartments without notice. In a settlement with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Elkayam paid $8,000 in penalties and agreed to comply with New York’s housing laws.

Elkayam and Jerusalem Management were investigated for deceptive leasing practices since 2022. The OAG uncovered illegal fees such as a $100 cleaning fee for appliances and a $75 daily late charge for staying past the lease expiration. Leases also allowed Elkayam to enter tenants’ apartments without notice, with one tenant reporting an early morning maintenance worker intrusion.

As part of the settlement, Elkayam must remove misleading clauses from future leases, notify tenants before entering their apartments, and provide predetermined fees for damages or legal costs. He is also required to distribute OAG’s Residential Tenants’ Rights Guide to new and renewing tenants.

Attorney General James has a history of tackling housing discrimination, including stopping Greg and John Karian from discriminating against low-income renters and announcing $970,000 in grants for fair housing testing and enforcement. In August 2024, Shamco Management Corp. paid $400,000 to victims of illegal housing denials.

This case is part of a broader effort by Attorney General James to protect New York’s tenants from unfair practices and ensure that landlords comply with the law.