The Landlord Watchlist

Introducing our list and map of landlords and property managers who have been submitted to the Landlord Watchlist Project. Last updated November 1, 2022. This map is searchable by landlord name, property management company, or zip code. As with our list search tool, our map’s search feature is sensitive to spelling errors. We recommend searching by county below.

Disclaimer: This project uses qualitative data based on testimony and already publicly available information. Please do your own research, confirm your own identities, and draw your own conclusions.

2022 Edition Update: We have added new landlords and tenant stories based on the submissions we received in the last 9 months. We are also in the process of updating the data concerning the landlords/property managers included in the first publication. This means that reports from our first publication may not yet reflect landlord/tenant complaints filed between December 2021 through October 2022.

Landlords in Pennsylvania are not required by law to obtain a rental license- this is determined by individual localities. Check your local laws on landlords and rental licensing. If you are a renter in Philadelphia, you can check if your landlord has a license through Licensing and Inspections (L&I) using this link. Philly: if a license is inactive, it is less than 60 days post the original expiration date. An expired license means it is past the 60 days.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans are referenced throughout this publication. PPP loans are SBA-backed loans that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis. The program is aimed to support small businesses “with the resources they need to maintain their payroll, hire back employees who may have been laid off, and cover applicable overhead.” These loans are designed to be forgiven, meaning they do not have to be paid back. We used this tool to learn which landlords or property management groups received funds and why. For consistency’s sake, when we reference the pandemic’s start date, we are referring to March 15, 2020.

Please note this is just a sample of testimony we received: Some of the submissions had to be omitted. If you find an error with our reporting, please contact us and we will fix it.

We are working to make our form more accessible and include testimony from all counties and communities in Pennsylvania.

If you want to connect or organize with other tenants who have had the same landlord, please contact us and we will work to connect you.

A special thanks to the tenants who have submitted their testimony to the project and the advocates who continue to fight for renters in Pennsylvania and beyond. We would also like to thank the organizations and individuals who have assisted with bringing this project to life including the Mahmoud S. Taman Foundation who helped us fund our publication. We are a small team and this project is completely grassroots. Thank you for your patience. With your help, we will continue to hold predatory landlords accountable and fight for housing for all, without exception.

Allegheny:

Union Real Estate Company

Reportedly, Union Real Estate evicted tenants, threatened to evict tenants, and charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments. There are 3 business entities registered to Union Real Estate, all using the address 301 Grant Street, Suite 1250, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. They own properties in Pittsburgh and its surrounding suburbs. Founded in 1932, their President is Jan Levinson, who has been in the position for over 25 years.

Between 1996 and 2022, they have filed 341 evictions. Since the pandemic began, Union Real Estate has filed at least 22. They received a $534,600 PPP loan.

Marc Taiani (M&M Realty)

Reportedly, refused to make repairs, charged fees for untimely rent payments, and threatened fines or evictions for political signs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marc Taiani has used his company, M&M Realty, to petition for conservatorship of properties owned by families through anti-blight property laws. Public Source has reported on Taiani’s abuse of the conservatorship law in 2020 against Kathleen Wilson, a 77-year-old homeowner battling breast cancer.

““It’s unadulterated greed,” Wilson said. The petition spurred her to scramble to hire a lawyer, restart work on the property and secure financing, in between chemotherapy appointments. Of the seven-month court fight with Taiani, she said: “This has taken a lot of energy.””

Rich Lord (Public Source)

JJ Land Company

Reportedly, JJ Land Company is a notorious property manager in the Pittsburgh area. You can read our report about them here. They have evicted tenants, threatened to evict tenants, and raised rent during the pandemic. JJ Land Company is owned by Jeffrey Weisband. Weisband received a PPP loan for $85,000 in May 2020.

PMC Property Group

Reportedly, PMC Properties manage units across the east coast, including in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. PMC Properties has evicted tenants during the pandemic, despite the moratorium. PMC Property Group Inc. (located in Philadelphia) received two PPP loans totaling $5.42 million dollars.

Central Hill Associates (AHRCO Management)

Reportedly, CHA threatened to evict tenants, charged fees, and raised rent in an attempt to displace tenants. CHA is associated with Allegheny Housing Rehabilitation Corporation, which received a $664,550 PPP loan.

Nexus Real Estate

Reportedly, Nexus Real Estate LLC made homes uninhabitable (pest infestation, cut off heat, etc.) Multiple complaints have been filed to the Better Business Bureau against Nexus. Nexus Real Estate has filed 501 evictions in Allegheny County from 2017-2022.

“My apartment building has no heat. The radiators do not work and I’ve contacted them many times about it. They have done nothing.”

“This company is no good. Avoid at all costs.”

BBB reviews

Martin Scheuermann

Reportedly, Scheuermann owns properties throughout the Greenfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh and Turtle Creek. He has made homes uninhabitable due to pests, refused to make repairs, and is reported to be “simply incompetent and dangerously negligent.”

Dylan Ahrens

Reportedly, Ahrens has evicted tenants during the pandemic and has made his properties uninhabitable due to untreated pest problems. He appears to be a developer at East End Acquisitions.

Zytnick Realty

Reportedly, Zytnick Realty refused to make repairs. This group is owned by Jay, Joel, and Sheldon Zytnick (2009251). Sheldon has filed two landlord/tenant complaints during the pandemic and Jay filed three from 2016 through 2021.

“Broken fridge, mice, carpenter ants, no ventilation, a leak gone unfixed for months.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Matt Smith (Larryville Properties)

Reportedly, Smith threatened to evict tenants and charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments. Larryville Properties LLC is incorporated in Westmoreland County. Larryville Properties filed multiple landlord/tenant complaints during the pandemic in Allegheny County.

Matt Foulkrod (Real Property Management Three Rivers)

Reportedly, RPMTR raised rent during the pandemic and evicted/threatened to evict tenants who could not pay. Real Property Management Three Rivers is registered under the business name Bamf Hoodz LLC and the owner is Matt Foulkrod. While RPMTR did not receive a PPP loan, Bamf Hoodz LLC received two separate loans totaling $111,0000. RPMTR has filed over thirty landlord/tenant complaints from 2014-2022.

“They sent an email to all tenants adding a new $30/mo management fee, saying it’s non-negotiable, industry standard, and allowable by PA law. Currently in a term lease that doesn’t mention any such fee.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Jeffrey S. Koch 

Reportedly, Koch evicted tenants during the pandemic, threatened tenants, cut utility service, and refused to make repairs. His reported behavior has made tenants fear for their safety. Koch is a former Pittsburgh City Councilor for District 3. He originally won in a special election. His 2007 City Council campaign for reelection was riddled with scandal and campaign violations. Koch ran for District 3 City Council office in 2011 and lost.

Andrew Sulka (Metro Rentals, LLC)

Reportedly, Sulka evicted tenants, refused to make repairs, and made units uninhabitable due to pests and neglect, and did not return security deposits. Sulka is listed as the key contact for Metro Rentals, LLC. He has filed 135 landlord/tenant complaints in Allegheny County between 2007 and 2022; 12 were filed during the pandemic.

He is featured in a WTAE article titled “Thousands of Western Pennsylvania tenants facing eviction despite moratorium” from February 2021.

“Meanwhile, thousands of area tenants are waiting to see if they will be evicted. In Allegheny County, there are 1,379 pending eviction cases. One of them involves [tenant] who lives in a North Side apartment.

In October he called the Allegheny County Health Department to complain about unsanitary conditions, including mold.

“I’m sleeping next to mold every day. I have asthma and I’m having serious health issues because of it,” [tenant] said.

Inspectors found multiple violations, including mold, and said the apartment was “unfit for human habitation. Three weeks after the initial inspection, [the tenant’s] landlord Andrew Sulka went to court to evict him.

That prompted the health department to suspend enforcement action against the landlord, which the department does automatically in eviction cases.

Paul Van Osdol (WTAE)

Reginella Corporation

Reportedly, the Reginella Corporation evicted tenants during the pandemic and it is reported that they did not return security deposits. Online reviews corroborate that dealing with the management company is incredibly difficult. Reginella Corporation received $40,000 in PPP loans. The Reginella Corporation has filed 326 landlord/tenant disputes from 1994-2021.

Matthew Johnston 

Reportedly, Johnston did not return security deposits. Additionally, Johnston threatened to evict tenants, raised rent during the pandemic, charged fees due to untimely rent, and made homes uninhabitable.

Cheryl Owens (Kamin Realty)

Reportedly, Kamin Realty made homes uninhabitable (pest infestation, cut off heat, etc.) Online reviews illustrate their poor treatment of tenants. Kamin Realty has filed 44 landlord/tenant complaints from 2011 through 2012, with multiple being filed during the pandemic. They received 2 PPP loans totaling $175,000.

““They do not provide heat in the winter.  The only thing you get, while freezing in your apartment, is “apology” and “we’re working on it” e-mails from the utterly incompetent management.”

“Horrible how they treat their residents if I were you don’t rent anything from these people.”

Google reviews of Kamin Realty

Julio Pampena 

Reportedly, the Pamenpa’s evicted tenants, threatened to evict tenants, refused to make repairs and made homes uninhabitable during the pandemic. Julio Pampena has filed 19 landlord/tenant complaints from 2012-2020.

Kennedy Highland (A R Building Company)

Reportedly, this building is located in McKees Rocks, and the manager of this property refused to take payments, filed for eviction, cut utility services, refused to make repairs, and charged fees/penalties for untimely rent payments.

Steel Town Properties

Reportedly, STP has evicted tenants and refuses to make repairs. STP received four separate PPP loans totaling $62,882. STP operates under multiple LLCs. STP is affiliated with MW Wright Real Estate LLC which received a $7,162 PPP loan.

Mohammad Shahriar Akbar (RRP Management LLC)

Reportedly, Akbar and RRP Management raised rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants and made homes uninhabitable (pest infestation, cut off heat, etc.) Akbar is featured in a blogpost illustrating his negligence and treatment of tenants in the Pacific Northwest.

Mr. Akbar received a $20,832 PPP loan for the retainment of 1 job.

RRP Management LLC has filed 2 landlord/tenant complaints this year in Pittsburgh .

“The damp caused huge patches of black mold to grow. Mr. Akbar insisted there was no mold, but the fact of the Pacific Northwest climate requires home owners to take proactive measures.

I advised Mr. Akbar to use industrial drying fans, dehumidifiers, etc.When i attended the shredded ceiling below, my breathing tube would swell up. 

The overcrowded unit had four sublease residents living in a one bedroom, with the man who lived in the leaking ceiling kitchen closet pantry, actually using the front porch as his primary dwelling.

they refused to abide by Mr. Akbar’s 300 dollar rent hike, during the ceiling leaking crisis, demanding he fix the property…”

Creepy Landlord blogpost

Larry Mayo

Reportedly, Mayo had evicted tenants and refused to make repairs and address fire hazards in his properties. He has filed 32 landlord/tenants disputes from 1998-2021. Mayo owns Mayo & Son Construction and Larry Mayo DVA Mayo Construction received a $19,065 PPP loan as “Residential Remodelers”.

Kim Bradley (WJ Keller Real Estate Services)

Reportedly, the property management company ​​raised rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants, charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments, and made their properties uninhabitable. Reviews and testimony describe them as “horrible slumlords” and it has been noted they discriminate against those with Section 8 housing vouchers.

Nick Barash (NSB Rentals)

Reportedly, Barash has evicted tenants and has a history of landlord/tenant disputes. He has brought multiple cases against tenants during the pandemic. It has been reported that he does not maintain his properties, refuses to make repairs, has raised rent during the pandemic, and has cut utility services.

“Barash doesn’t maintain his properties well to begin with and it only worsened when the pandemic hit. He raised rent and only gave a weeks notice to sign the lease with the increased rent. Barash refused to make any accommodations when I asked no one come into my space to tour it, but that was ignored. Raw sewage was leaking into my bathroom and Barash fixed it by putting a container under the leak and replacing the ceiling tile. After I moved out early (but still had a month in my lease and had paid for said month) he harassed me until I turned my keys in early. No refund for the month that he had a new tenant, so double rent for him I guess.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Andrew Kolenda

Reportedly, Kolenda rented out uninhabitable properties, threatened tenants, and threatened to evict tenants during the pandemic. He has filed multiple landlord/tenant complaints.

Regent Square Rentals (CP Development) 

Reportedly, RSR threatened to evict tenants during the pandemic, despite the moratorium. RSR is owned by Charles Patterson and CPD is owned by Peter Patterson. Online reviews illustrate their poor treatment of tenants.

“We forgot to pay our water bill and were threatened with eviction during the pandemic and moratorium because our lease states that all utilities be paid on time while living in the apartment. We have also recently received notice from them that due to us not renewing our lease…they now reserve the right to walk possible new tenants through our apartment at any time without warning.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Steven Fox (High Park Properties)

Reportedly, they charged fees for untimely rent and utility payments and raised rent during the COVID-19 pandemic. High Park Properties is registered under four separate LLCs. Fox is a multi-family residential properties manager.

“My roommates have been struggling a little with payments and our landlord charged late fees if it was not previously discussed that the rent would be late. He recently sent an email where he stays that he doesn’t “chase tenants for rent”. He hasn’t once asked us about COVID-19 and how we are all doing.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Royale Management Group Pittsburgh

Reportedly, while registered as an LLC in Aliquippa, and owning property in Pittsburgh, this management company has threatened to evict and allegedly discriminates against tenants.

Craig Best & Dustin Nulf (The Full House LLC at Keller Williams Realty, Inc. / The Dustin Nulf Team)

Reportedly, the landlord has attempted to sell a property that tenants were renting and threatened to evict tenants with notice if the house is sold. Best reportedly brought large groups of people to the property against the wishes of tenants and defied COVID-19 safety protocols.

The Dustin Nulf Team LLC received two PPP loans totaling $44,225. Nulf flipped homes during the pandemic.

RE 360

Reportedly, RE 360 cut utility service, refused to make repairs, and/or changed locks, and made homes uninhabitable due to pest infestations. RE 360 started in 2009 and has over 550 units as of 2021. RE 360 has filed 84 landlord/tenant complaints in Allegheny County between 2011 and 2022. They are registered as business entities under multiple names including RE 360 SS Partners XI LP, RE 360 SS Partners VII LP, RE 360 SS Partners VI LP, RE360 SS Partners III LP, etc. 

During the pandemic they received a $177,500 PPP loan.

“[the] first place had a MASSIVE roach infestation. they did nothing for weeks, even though all of the neighbors complained as well. to keep us quiet, we were moved to another property. this one had mice, roaches, thousands of flies, and was just plain dangerous and disgusting to live in.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Rentwell Pittsburgh

Reportedly refused to make repairs and made homes uninhabitable due to insufficient heat. They reportedly withheld security despots. Rentwell has offices in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Their Pittsburgh business entity is named “Pittsburgh Management Group LLC”, which received an $18,400 PPP loan. Rentwell Philadelphia is named “​​Your Local Leasing Company” which received a $108,400 PPP loan.

Kefalos & Associates

Reportedly, K&A did not return security deposits in a timely manner, refused to make repairs, and made homes uninhabitable due to pest infestations. Kefalos & Associates is owned by Christopher Kefalos. Kefalos & Associates Real Estate received two PPP loans totaling $104,4000. 

“basement foundation was not even close to sealed properly, gutters had fallen off, there was mold everywhere upon move in. had to sleep in gloves in the winter because of the poor insulation. basement flooded to your knees every time it rained. was promised repairs that never came, and then they tried to screw us over with an outstanding water bill from previous tenants. horrible incompetent mess”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Timothy Resutko

Reportedly, Resutko refused to address a severe mouse infestation, refused to make repairs, and is stated to be  “a predatory landlord”, holding “dangerous notions about poor people.” He owns multiple properties throughout the city.

“Timothy is a predatory landlord. He blamed damage from former tenants on us, and even proudly admitted to it, but said he was still holding us liable because we did not list it or have a tour before we moved in.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Lorna Santos

Reportedly, Santos has evicted tenants during the pandemic. She has refused to make repairs and reportedly attempted to convince an electrician to not make repairs after being told it was a fire risk.

Dorthy Decker

Reportedly, Decker evicted tenants, threatened to evict tenants, raised rent, retaliated against tenants, and refused to make repairs during the pandemic. Her treatment of tenants allegedly threatened their health and safety.

Phil Hobbs (The Burgh Property Management)

Reportedly, The Burgh Property Management cut utility service, refused to make repairs, and made homes uninhabitable. The Burgh Property Management, LLC was submitted to the project numerous times for these offenses. Burgh Property Management has been owned by Phill Hobbs since 2018. They operate rental units in Pittsburgh, Cranberry, Washington, Bethel Park, Erie, and Indiana. They have filed 11 landlord/tenant complaints in Allegheny, Beaver, and Washington counties between 2019 and 2022; 8 were filed in 2022 alone.

“Refused to answer maintenance requests causing sever damage and the ceiling to collapse”

“Mice infested building…”

“Landlord answers calls only when it’s convenient for him…”

Tenant testimonies to LWP

Carlos & Megan Schrader (Schrader Family Trust) 

Reportedly, the Scharders overcharged tenants, refused to provide CO2 detectors, and evicted tenants during the pandemic. The properties are reportedly “in violation of zoning and occupancy codes.” They operate through The Schrader Family Trust and Schrader Services. Carlos is a Pittsburgh police officer with an annual salary of $106,451.

“Filed for an eviction and lied on court papers staying I was behind on rent even though I was never late and he had accepted double payments. This landlord is a chronic evictor and repeat security deposit withholder.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Thomas Meising 

Reportedly, Meising has threatened to evict tenants, refused to make repairs, made a home uninhabitable, and cut utility services. It is reported that the properties he manages are unsafe and not up to code. He has a history of filing landlord/tenant complaints.

NRM Properties

Reportedly, NRM Properties made homes uninhabitable, refused to make repairs, and raised rents in an attempt to displace tenants during the pandemic. An article published by Pittsburgh City Paper illustrates how NRM raised rents unexpectedly on tenants. NRM operates properties in Pittsburgh, Washington, Greensburg, and California, Pennsylvania. They received a $12,500 PPP loan to retain 1 job. The noted property manager is Ashlyn Conway.

“Ever since our building was handed over to NRM properties in 2020, it has slowly degraded.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

“[Tenant] and her roommate had only lived in their Bloomfield apartment about three months when their landlord changed from Arkham Realty to NRM Properties in October 2020. In February 2021, [the tenant] received a lease renewal contract that mentioned a rent increase from $885, not including utilities, to $1,225, not including utilities.

The nearly 40% increase in rent was untenable for [the tenants] who tried reaching out to their landlord but received no answers for why NRM was increasing their rent. Their rent increase was also higher than other tenants’ rent increases in their shared building, for which they also received no explanation.

Kimberly Rooney 高小荣 (PGH City Paper)

C.L. Livingston

Reportedly attempted to evict tenants during the pandemic. Livingston has a history of filing landlord/tenant complaints.

CityLife Property Management

Reportedly, CLPM owns over 100 properties in the Pittsburgh area. They refused to make repairs, charged fees and interest due to untimely rent, and raised rents during the pandemic. Since March 2020, they have filed 12 landlord/tenant disputes.

Kalman Szabo

Reportedly, Szabo threatened to evict tenants, refused to accept rent payments, made tenants’ homes uninhabitable, and refused to make repairs. He filed a notice to quit in 2019. He reportedly resides in New Jersey.

Mike Kaye (TPL Income Property Corp)

Reportedly, Kaye is a multiple-property landlord who evicted and threatened tenants with bodily harm. They own properties throughout Penn Hills, Monroeville, Plum, and Pittsburgh. TPLIPC is located in Murrysville (Westmoreland County) and was incorporated in Nevada. Kaye has filed both landlord/tenant disputes prior to the pandemic in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

Jim and Evelyn Hawk

Reportedly, the Hawks refused to make repairs, cut utility services, did not return tenants’ security deposit, and threatened to evict tenants. They have a history of filing landlord/tenant complaints from 2014-2021. According to Linkedin, they operate under the name Hawk Rentals.

“He never returned our security deposit and threatened us with lawsuits when we asked about it. I would not be surprised if he was taking advantage of folks in the pandemic in any way he can.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Roman and Caroline Harlovic (Roman Land Company Inc)

Reportedly, the Harlovic’s threatened to evict tenants, raised rent, and charged fees due to untimely rent during the pandemic.  

Debbie Schweiger (EZ Rentals LLC) 

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants during the pandemic. She has an extensive history of filing landlord/tenant civil complaints from 2011-2021. Ez Rentals owns properties across Pittsburgh. YouTube video referring to her as the “Slumlord of Pittsburgh”.

Anthony Mangine (Carlson & Associates)

Reportedly, Mangine made tenants’ homes uninhabitable and refused to make repairs. Carlson & Associates is managed by Harvey J. Obrien. Tenants have taken the landlord to the Magistrate Court for failure to repair their unit and won. The landlord has yet to completely fix their apartment. C&A received a PPP loan of at least $31,269 in February 2021.

EBG Properties LLC

Reportedly, located in Wexford, EBG threatened to evict tenants. Owned by Elise Bickle, EBG received two separate PPP loans totaling $172,535. Since the pandemic, they have filed multiple landlord/tenant complaints. In December 2019, the Better Business Bureau investigated the LLC’s practices which “was prompted by contact from the business and consumer inquiries including complaints”, and as of January 27, 2020, “the business failed to respond to BBB’s request for information”.

Highland Park Club Apartments (& Associated Properties)  

Reportedly charged egregious fees and increased rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants. The owner of HPCA is Gardens at Negley LLP, which is owned by Michael D. McNally. 

“Landlord sent a lease renewal form with increased rent in the middle of the pandemic because “it’ll be hard to find new tenants” when the renewal was set to end. I was trying to work out the details of my lease renewal and they ended up charging me $300 because those negotiations took too long.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Ettorino & Joann DeFelice

Reportedly, the DeFelice’s were submitted to LWP for general predatory and egregious behavior towards tenants. They have entered tenants’ apartments without 24 hour notice and threatened them in their homes. They have also withheld security deposits.

“I would like to report them as a predatory landlord that avoids much-needed repairs to the building they own and that will harass tenants even if they pay on time and in full. One can only imagine how they would treat someone who may be unable to pay rent due to job loss or other issues”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Christopher James Dean

Reportedly, Dean threatened to evict tenants, harassed, and threatened tenants with bodily harm.

“​Due to a pending DUI case, [the landlord] called us in need of rent to paid faster and called us racial slurs…and stated we owe him and need to do him favors, or there will be consequences, being a pending eviction.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Jay Cravotta

Reportedly, Cravotta raised rent and threatened to evict tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic. He reportedly specifically targeted tenants applying for rent relief. According to Linkedin, he is the President of Office Furniture Warehouse in McKees Rocks and also operates as a landlord.

James Sproat (Realty Counseling)

Reportedly, Sproat was submitted for evicting tenants during the pandemic. Realty Counseling (entity 241046) received a $4,800 PPP loan. Sproat and Realty Counseling Co. have together filed 150 landlord/tenant complaints between 2007 and 2022. Together, they have filed 18 landlord/tenant complaints since the pandemic began.

Online reviews show their unprofessionalism and poor treatment of tenants.

“I rented from these people for 9 and a half years. Then one day they call me up and say the place needs a new fire escape and they can’t afford it so they sold the property to developers who evicted everybody. I HATE these people (Realty Counseling Co. Inc.) for doing that to me. There’s a special place in hell for people like that.”

Yelp review of Realty Counseling

Semyon Nudel

Reportedly, Nudel was submitted for threatening to evict tenants and making them feel unsafe and forcing them out of their homes. 

Brian Kelly (John C.R. Kelly Realty Inc)

Reportedly, JCRKR owns properties across Pittsburgh. They charged fees, refused to make repairs, and threatened additional penalties.

“Brian Kelly came into our home before move out and claimed that we did not clean so [he] charged us thousands. We cleaned before we moved out, but the pictures he used to justify it were taken before we were moved out. He never made repairs, did not clean before move in, and charged us for several issues that the house had prior to move in. He then threatened to charge us more when we brought it up.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Robert V. Torkeo

Reportedly, Torkeo has evicted tenants during the pandemic, threatened to evict tenants, and refuses to make repairs, making his properties unlivable. He has filed many landlord/tenant complaints, dating from 2013-2021.

Hope Feldman (Your Town Realty)

Reportedly, Feldman managed uninhabitable properties that posed health hazards to tenants and refused to make repairs.

Mark Puzas (Alice Street Investments, LLC)

Reportedly, Puzas cut utility service, refused to make repairs, and/or changed locks, made homes uninhabitable, and evicted tenants. Alice Street Investments was submitted to the project along with Rockledge Commons (entity 4279796) who both share the address 108 Kenyon Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15205. Mark Puzas is the owner of both. Alice Street Investments received 2 PPP loans totaling $56,369 and Rockledge Commons received 2 PPP loans totaling $27,291. In 2015 and 2016, Puzas himself filed 5 evictions in Allegheny County.

From 2016 through 2022, Alice Street Investments, LLC filed 66 landlord/tenant complaints; at least 23 of these have been filed since the pandemic began. Rockledge Commons LLC has filed 14 landlord/tenant complaints since the pandemic began.

Regis Donovan (Donovan and Associates)

Reportedly, Donovan raised rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants. Donovan & Associates have filed 48 landlord/tenant complaints from 1996-2021.

Darian Balcom

Balcom was submitted for reportedly discriminating against tenants and for hateful rhetoric. Balcom has filed 2 landlord/tenant complaints during the pandemic. Multiple civil suits have been filed against her by tenants for wrongly withholding security deposits. An article written by Jordana Rosenfeld titled “Judge finds neighbor guilty of harassment in North Side transphobia case” highlights Balcom’s outright bigotry and transphobia.

“Often she will then file retaliatory lawsuits against tenants, which are dismissed immediately.  Several of her units ate nothing more than hastily converted single family homes with no locks on individual “apartments”. She also discriminates in her application process, refusing to rent to men or people with children. She does not hide this. “”

Tenant testimony to LWP

“The owner of the sign, Darian Balcom, was found guilty of a summary offense and charged with a $200 fine during a hearing this morning. In a criminal complaint initiating the case, Sean O’Donnell reported that Balcom harassed his family by putting up a large sign reading “‘transing’ kids is abuse and homophobia” in clear view of his trans daughter’s bedroom window.”

…”“I feel attacked and horrified by what Darian Balcom has done to me and my family.””

Jordana Rosenfeld (PGH City Paper)

Jackie Mitlo (Lincoln Property Company)

Reportedly, LPC threatened to evict and eventually evicted tenants during the pandemic, despite the moratorium. Additionally, they reportedly refused to make repairs and compromised the safety of tenants and their pets. LPC operates in 15 states and globally.

Sams Uddin (Hedayet Ullah)

Reportedly, Uddin evicted tenants, cut utility services, destroyed tenant property, and made tenants’ homes uninhabitable during the pandemic.

Michael Bupp

Reportedly, Bupp reportedly charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments, refused to make repairs, and refused to return security deposits.  He has filed 13 landlord/tenant complaints between 2012 and 2022 in Allegheny and Butler counties. He infamously owns properties in Oakland throughout the University of Pittsburgh’s campus. In 2015, Bupp was taken to court by a group of Pitt students.

“A group of students at the University of Pittsburgh entered into a residential lease with Michael Bupp. They paid the first and last month’s rent and a security deposit in advance, for a total of $5,990.00.

The first of the group to move in, [the tenant], identified some items in need of repair, including a bath drain, a light, various locks, which he communicated to Bupp by email.  Bupp responded with a text message stating: “I cannot deal with your group.  Please leave.”

“Bupp refused to return the rent and security deposit payments.  He stated that they had abandoned the premises despite his promises to perform the repairs.

On appeal from the award of the Arbitrators, a jury entered a verdict for the tenants in the amount of $3,990.00.  The trial court thereafter took additional evidence on the Plaintiffs’ claims under the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. (UTPCPL)

Cliff Tuttle (PIttsburgh Legal Back Talk)

RPI Rentals

Reportedly, RPI Rentals refused to make repairs and evicted tenants during the pandemic. They operate 400 units in the greater Pittsburgh area. Online reviews illustrate their poor treatment of tenants. RPI, or Residential Properties Inc. shares an address with OneSource IPS and both are owned by Chuck or Charles Pupich. Between 2008-2017, Residential Properties Inc. has filed over 200 landlord/tenant complaints.

RPI has had complaints filed to the BBB. One Source IPS services landlords, property managers, and real estate investors. Pupich has created OneSource Real Estate University.

“I had a leak destroy my ceiling and he only fixed it after evicting me.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Brad Papciak

Papciak is reported to have raised rent during the pandemic and refuses to make repairs.

David Paola (Arkham Realty, formerly CA Properties) 

Reportedly, the property managers charged exuberant fees, refused to make repairs, and managed uninhabitable properties. Formerly known as CA Properties, Arkham Realty has filed 6 landlord/tenant complaints since the pandemic began and have made 89 in total since 2017.

“I had countless disputes with David Paola and his company CA Properties over the years (I’m sure you know the CA name as slumlords) which was bought by Arkham Realty in Dec 2019. Roof leaks that persisted for years before being fixed then fixed 5 more times before the leak stopped, window missing glass in some rooms, black mold in most rooms, and general bad slumlord upkeep: all these I bugged the hell out them for and won a few repairs, but I could not afford to move…

The final straw was recently getting a bill for non-itemized and bogus “damages” (all things I can prove I brought to their attention years ago) more than my deposit, saying they’re keeping the deposit and I owe more money… lucky for me Arkham/David sent the letter 36 days after the agreed-upon move-out day, so they have no claim to the deposit or “damages” and the law says I am owed 2x deposit…

I’m writing all this to bring attention to my former landlord but also to the statute 68 P.S. §§ 250.512 about 30-day deposit refund deadline and 2x deposit return if late.

Tenant testimony to LWP

Brendan Makarewicz

Reportedly refused to make repairs. 

“House is falling apart. Water damage throughout the house. Bad insulation. Refuses to fix unsafe ceiling fans and ceiling tiles. Installed coin boxes on laundry machines during coin shortage.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

John Costello (Costello Management LLC) 

Reportedly, the management company told tenants they would not increase their rent if the lease was signed by a certain date. Costello Management LLC received a $12,230 PPP loan. They manage properties in the East End of Pittsburgh. Costello Management has filed over 100 landlord/tenant complaints from 2005-2021.

Alexander Ellis

Reportedly, Ellis raised rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants. 

“​​Landlord raised rent by $300 in December, at the height of COVID-19 and during the holidays.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

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Berks:

Bill Engler

Reportedly refused to make repairs and withheld security deposits without reason during the pandemic.

“He claimed the house was damaged, dirty, and took all of our deposits without any receipts or proof of work done for the apparent problems.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Dennis Milhoan & Nan Wang (Panda Property Management LLC) 

Reportedly, Panda Property Management evicted tenants during the pandemic. Dennis Milhoan owns PPM which operates in Dauphin, Lebanon, and Lancaster counties as well.

“They own multiple rental properties which were fraudulently using COVID-19 relief funds.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

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Bucks:

Viking Residential

Reportedly, VR threatened to evict tenants and charged numerous late fees due to untimely rent payments. VR is headquartered in Cherry Hil, New Jersey and their president is Caroline Adillon. Here are the properties they manage in Pennsylvania.

Arnold Berkowitz

Reportedly refused to make repairs, cut utility service, and changed locks. Made the home uninhabitable due to pests, mold, and animal excrement. Berkowitz was sentenced for illegal distribution of weight-loss drugs in 2017 and had his license revoked. 

“I would consider him predatory to young mothers and people of color.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Grandview Garden Apartments or Riverview Crossings (Kamson Corporation) 

Reportedly evicted tenants during the pandemic. Online reviews illustrate their incompetence. Kamson Corporation website but they own properties throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. The Kamson Corporation received a $1.35 million PPP loan. Grandview Garden Apartments filed 19 landlord/tenant complaints from 2015-2018.

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Centre:

State College Collective (formerly Cooper Beech)

Reportedly, State College Collective refused to make repairs, charged fees, interest, or penalties due to untimely rent payments, and made homes uninhabitable due to pest infestations. State College Collective operates four apartment communities designed around student living. SCC has filed 9 landlord/tenant complaints in 2022 alone.

“They regularly ignored our maintenance requests and left us without functioning heat or in a roach-infested situation.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Cooper Beech Townhome Communities is a real estate company specializing in student housing facilities management and development services. CB owns communities in multiple states including PA, MI, VA, IN, OH, and more. In 2013 Campus Crest Group acquired Cooper Beech but in 2016, Harrison Street Real Estate bought Campus Crest for $1.9 billion. Harrison Street is one of the largest United States student-housing landlords. Cooper Beech has 77 active related business entities. They filed 235 landlord/tenant complaints between 2010 and 2022.

“The door is broken, when it rains, the water comes in. I’m experiencing an extremely terrible room condition right now.”

“In my opinion, this place is an absolute SCAM. Literally almost everything is broken or run down.”

“There is not one care in the world for the well being of their residents. Do you have a broken water heater? They don’t care. They’ll get to you when they feel like it. Is your house filled with ladybugs and roaches? They don’t care. In their minds it must be your fault! Is your back porch stairs literally falling apart? Sorry, if that happens you must pay for it! This is the worst company I have ever had the displeasure of leasing from. State College Collective, Copper Beech, Asset Living. Whatever name they want to change their name to, their management stays the same. Pure incompetence. If I could give 0 stars I would.”

Google Reviews of SCC

Rodney Hendricks (Hendricks Investment / Noah’s Ark)

Reportedly, Hendricks is a notorious slumlord in State College. He was submitted for reportedly refusing to make repairs, predatory behavior, and making homes beyond uninhabitable. He is the owner of Hendricks Investment. In 2021, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro filed a lawsuit against Hendricks for “unlawful practices”. He knowingly “violated the commonwealth’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law and the Landlord-Tenant Act.”

The Bureau of Consumer Protections alleged that Hendricks’ business practices enabled him to “not only retain the entire amount of the security deposit, but to also routinely charge hundreds if not thousands of dollars above and beyond the amount of the security deposit upon termination of the lease.” Hendricks was also named a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit in 2005 for a fire that destroyed an off-campus property he owned, which killed a 21-year-old. 

“It feels like he’s psychologically torturing us into moving so he can shut the whole building down.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Alight State College (The Scion Group)

Reportedly, Alight State College (formerly The Park) evicted tenants and changed lease terms without notification. Operated by The Scion Group, they manage “nearly 83,000 beds of student-focused residences at 78 campuses nationwide”. Yelp reviews corroborate their poor treatment of tenants.

“has filed evictions against tenants and made last minute changes to terms of leases. They are also refusing to process partial payments and are making tenants pay full rent and any fees incurred including a mysterious bus pass fee which is not included in the lease.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

College West, LLC

College West was reported as being “unresponsive and neglectful.” Furthermore, they reportedly made homes uninhabitable, and charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments.

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Chester:

Pathlight Property Management

Reportedly, PPM sold properties while tenants were living there, threatened to evict tenants, and charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments. Their business entity name is OPVHHJV LLC which is registered in Texas.

Alfred duPont (Gateway Farm Holdings)

Reportedly evicted tenants, refused to make repairs, and made the unit uninhabitable due to neglect deemed hazardous. Gateway Farm Holdings LLC filed an eviction during the pandemic. Gateway Farm Holdings LLC is incorporated in Delaware. Gateway Farm Holdings was represented by Ryan Grace, Esq. of Bellwoar Kelly, LLP.

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Clarion:

Stephen Shreffler 

Reportedly, Shreffler has attempted to evict tenants and filed multiple landlord/tenant complaints during the pandemic. He reportedly manipulated tenants. 

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Cumberland:

Liquid Management, LLC

Reportedly evicted tenants, raised rent during a pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants, charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments, made homes uninhabitable, and illegally retaliated and discriminated against tenants. Liquid Management, LLC is located in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania and their owner is Ryan M. Flynn. Presumably, they own properties in Cumberland and York counties. They have filed 116 landlord/tenant complaints in York County and 46 of those have been filed since the pandemic began. They received a $16,250 PPP loan.

Matthew Steinkamp

Reportedly, Steinkamp misled and illegally evicted tenants despite the eviction moratorium. Additionally, he reportedly cut utility services and made homes uninhabitable.

Dauphin:

Harrisburg Property Management Group

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants and charged fees and penalties due to late rent payments during the COVID-19 eviction moratorium. Harrisburg Property Management Group has filed over 140 complaints during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read our entire report about them here.

Twelve Trees

Reportedly, Twelve Trees have charged fees and increased rent during the pandemic. They have reportedly refused to participate in emergency rental assistance programs “because they would not be allowed to evict.” Twelve Trees is incorporated in Delaware with officers based in Tennessee and New Jersey under the name CAF V AGP, LLC. Their listed agent is National Registered Agents, Inc. Twelve Trees Partners has filed over 500 landlord/tenant complaints from 2013-2021 and two dozen of those complaints were filed during the pandemic.

Rick Way (Keystone Property Service LLC)

Reportedly, Way continually threatened to evict tenants during the pandemic. KPS filed multiple landlord/tenant complaints during the pandemic.

Stacy Hewes (The Encore at Laurel Ridge / Morgan Properties) 

Reportedly evicted tenants, refused to make repairs, and made the home uninhabitable due to unaddressed repairs. Morgan Properties Trust is incorporated in Pennsylvania and owns property across the east coast under the name Mitchell L. Morgan.

Himalaya Properties 

Reportedly evicted and attempted to evict numerous tenants during the pandemic. Himalaya Properties own properties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Kentucky. They are registered under A Himalaya Properties, LLC

Desirae Snyder (Lakewood Hills Apartments / Morgan Properties) 

Reportedly, Lakewood Hills Apartments and Townhomes evicted tenants, attempted to evict tenants, and evicted households with children during the pandemic. Since March 15, 2020 through December 6, 2021, Lakewood Hills has filed 259 landlord/tenant complaints. Since 2019, they have filed over 500 complaints. Snyder works at Morgan Properties.

Courtney Sollenberger

Reportedly, Sollenberger evicted tenants sold a property that tenants were living in. She has filed multiple landlord/tenant complaints.

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Delaware:

William Penn Realty

Reportedly, William Penn realty charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments, made homes uninhabitable, and discriminated against certified emotional support animals. Founded in 1986, Jim Gula serves as the President of WPR and the Vice President is Marc Ginsburg. They operate apartments in Delaware and Philadelphia counties. Google and Yelp reviews illustrate the poor conditions the properties were in upon move in and their treatment towards tenants.

“Poor condition of propertiy and stated that they will clean and do turnover work when you move in but none done and property dirty laden with hazards and only wanted to do maintenance that should have been done after you have moved in leaving you with an unlivable property that is to be quite frank “disgusting”. 

“An absolute and utter disgrace of a company.”

Yelp reviews from 2022

Media Real Estate Company

Reportedly evicted and threatened to evict tenants. MREC has many LLCs registered at various addresses throughout Delaware and Chester Pennsylvania. MREC has filed 164 landlord/tenant complaints from 1994-2020 in Delaware County.

David A. Burnett

Reportedly made the tenants’ home unlivable due to severe pest infestation and general neglect.

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Indiana:

Dave Reed

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants during the pandemic and put tenants in unsafe situations. He is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Majority Leader.

Lancaster:

Jennifer Hart (Hart Property Group)

Reportedly, Hart Property Group LLC threatened to evict tenants and charged fees, penalties or interest due to untimely rent payments. Hart Property Group filed 3 evictions in Lancaster County during the pandemic.

Lawrence:

DJ Theilen (Premier Property Management)

Reportedly refused to make repairs and threatened tenants with eviction. DJ Theilen is the owner of Fortune Foreclosures LLC, base in Washington, and this website for investing and real estate. Online consumer reviews illustrate his company’s fraudulent nature and his poor treatment of tenants.

Based in Beaver Falls, Premier Property Management received a $58,700 PPP loan.

“DJ Thielen is a rich pompous scam artist who makes the most money possible from doing the least amount of work. He is a talented liar and manipulator. “

Online review from October 19, 2019

Luzerne:

Susan Savinsky

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants, sent eviction notices without evicting tenants, and withheld security deposits.

“When I told her that she can’t evict me in the middle of a pandemic she said she’d find a way.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Adam Ruderman

Reportedly refuses to make repairs and maintain the property. Ruderman received two PPP loans totaling $30,467.

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Monroe:

Rick Michel

Reportedly evicted tenants with children. From 2012 to 2021, Richard Michel filed 69 landlord/tenant complaints.

Montgomery:

Aion Management (River Pointe) 

Reportedly, Aion Management, which acquired River Pointe apartments in 2017, raised rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants, charged interest due to untimely rent, and made units uninhabitable due to pests. Headquartered in Philadelphia, but with properties across the state, Aion Management LLC received $3.19 million PPP loan. Online reviews illustrate their neglect and predation. 

“They are also kicking other people out as well I’ve noticed so they can turn these only affordable apartments into “luxury”. It is sickening and saddening.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Morgan Properties

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants, charged fees for untimely rent, and evicted tenants despite the eviction moratorium. Online reviews illustrate their incompetence and negligence.

Botanica Cottages (Forty-Two LLC or Forty2 LLC)

Reportedly, located in Limerick, BC evicted tenants despite the moratorium. Additionally, they charged daily late fees. Forty2 LLC manages properties in Pennsylvania, Utah, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. The LLC received $1.39 million in PPP loans.

Patricia & Gary Garg 

Reportedly, the Gargs threatened to evict tenants, cut utility services, refused to make repairs and/or changed locks, charged fees, and made tenants’ homes uninhabitable. Patricia Garg filed multiple landlord/tenant complaints in Montgomery County during the pandemic.

Virginia Funk (Rolling Acres Corporation) 

Reportedly, RAC threatened to evict tenants, raised rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants, charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments, and made the tenants’ home uninhabitable. RAC is owned by Dorothy Funk and they received a $7,665 PPP loan.

Tom Giles (Rittenhouse Property Management)

Reportedly, RPM evicted tenants during the pandemic. The management company received a PPP loan of $105,875. From 2000 to 2020, RPM filed 412 landlord/tenant disputes.

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Northampton:

Residences at Willow Ridge (Lincoln Property Company)

Reportedly, Lincoln Property Company threatened to evict, evicted tenants, refused to make repairs, and charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments. LPC has multiple active Limited Partnerships and LLCs registered in Pennsylvania. LPC was founded in 1965 and they have apartment communities nationwide. In our state, they operate communities in Pittsburgh, Allentown, Glen Mills, Harrisburg, King of Prussia, Philadelphia, West Chester, and Cranberry. According to the Better Business Bureau, 173 complaints have been filed against them in just 3 years. BBB states on their website that “due to the volume of complaints filed against this business, BBB only publishes the details for 50% of the total complaints filed.”

“The company has not returned my security deposit as required by state law and as detailed in our lease agreement. “

“I have experienced mold infestation in my apartment unit that has made me sick! The apartment unit should be deemed as inhabitable. There is mold in the HVAC. and in the bathrooms. I have made several request for the management team and maintenance to repair water damage in that apartment previously. But to no avail. 

BBB review excerpts

Austin Siboni (Lehigh Properties)

Reportedly, Siboni charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent, refused to make repairs, and the home was made uninhabitable due to mold, which is a health hazard. He has also threatened to evict tenants. Lehigh Properties owns and manages over 20 properties in proximity to Lehigh University.

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Philadelphia:

Ori Feibush (OCF Realty)

Reportedly, Ori Feibush and OCF Realty + Rentals are notorious in Philadelphia. They are known for threatening to evict tenants and disrupting tenant organizing efforts.

OCF Realty LLC received a $558,100 PPP loan and the OCF Realty LLC and Subsidiary received a $543,200 PPP loan. The café the group operates has received $577,400 in loans, totaling over $1.6 million.

“Ori and OCF regularly threaten and intimidate their tenants. It only got worse during the pandemic.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

“Tenants of OCF recently held a meeting to discuss writing a letter to OCF, demanding that OCF follow landlord-tenant law in interactions with tenants. OCF infiltrated the meeting. The following day, Feibush personally called one of the attendees, Shaun Miller, a black small business owner in the Point Breeze neighborhood. Feibush told Miller that his lease would not be renewed because of what he said in the meeting. This refusal to renew Miller’s lease is blatant retaliation for participation in tenant organizing, a legally protected action.”

Doris Grass (Workers.org)

Jean-Luc Zenou (Fairco Realty)

Reportedly, Zenou threatened to evict tenants and is reported to be “extremely aggressive” with tenants. Fairco Realty is also aligned with Fairco Refrigeration, Inc, which is also owned by Zenou. While neither LLC received a PPP loan, Jean-Luc Zenou received one for $20,833 for the purpose of retaining one job.

Leon Gibson

Gibson was submitted for reportedly refusing to make repairs and is negligent. He has an inactive rental license and has filed two landlord/tenant complaints.

Drew DeMarco

Reportedly, DeMarco threatened to evict tenants, sent an eviction notice without evicting them, and made homes uninhabitable. Allegedly, DeMarco falsified documents in order to be complaint with Philadelphia City Code. Online reviews illustrate his treatment towards tenants.

“Lied about having a lead certificate…ignored repair requests…made racist derogatory remarks…”

Tenant testimony to LWP

“They have mafia mentality, they will bully and try to intimidate you.”

Drew DeMarco Yelp review from 2017

Guy Laren (Constellar Corporation)

Reportedly, Consteller Corporation evicted, threatened to evict tenants, cut utility service, refused to make repairs, and/or changed locks, and charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments, and used deceptive business practices to withhold security deposits. Laren primarily owns property in the University City area.

They received two PPP loans (not linked on FederalPay) totaling $123,837.

“We made it clear we needed to open up a conversation about rent forgiveness. They did not respond to that request.”

Constellar tenants from Samantha Melemad’s Inquirer piece

“This has to be the WORST company I have ever had to deal with. Unorganized, bad communicators, and lack of any type of persistence. I tried to get a lease for a property from this company for 6 months and they kept saying it was coming until eventually they just stopped answering the phones. They left us scrambling to find an alternative place to live. All they care about is getting the application fee from you. Absolutely pitiful company. Please stay far away from these guys and don’t give your business to them!”

Google reviews

Mark Travis (Brownstone Property Management)

Reportedly refused to fill out the landlord portion of Philadelphia’s rental assistance program application. Travis is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley. It does not appear Travis has an active rental license.

Powelton Properties

Powelton Properties has reportedly evicted tenants, refused to make repairs, cut utilities, and made homes uninhabitable during the pandemic

. You can read our first publication on them here. PP is owned by Sheldon Schwartz. He has a separate business entity named Sheldon Schwartz DBA Powelton Properties, which is registered with a Massachusetts mailing address. Yelp reviews corroborate their mistreatment of tenants and potential renters.

“There was a huge fire in our building and not a single smoke alarm went off. Building was deemed uninhabitable but because they had someone come to repair fire alarms, they expected us to continue living there and paying rent.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

PRDC Properties

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants and charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments. PRDC received two PPP loans, for $725,000. One was for “Residential Property Managers” and one for “Other Activities Related to Real Estate”.

Executive Property Management

Reportedly, Executive Property Management was submitted for predatory behavior and for illegal lease clauses. EPM has filed landlord/tenant complaints through 2021 in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. Their business entity number is 1023093 and their President is Benedict Sparango who owns a custom home business. Sparango is also the President of Mainline Property Management, Inc., 2817098. EPM received a $16,767 PPP loan.

“The lease included a repair deductible, tenants were responsible for maintenance and repair of all appliances, there was a guest limit, a really concerning as is clause, a mold release saying they weren’t responsible for your death due to mold, they could enter at any time with no notice, etc…”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Patricia Aznar-Supovitz (Citlali LLC) 

Reportedly, Aznar-Supovitz refused to make repairs and made homes uninhabitable. Additionally, she raised rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants.

“My landlord refused to have the sewage cleaned, instead [she] let the raw sewage sit in my basement for months.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Brett Altman (Altman Management)

Reportedly, Altman management evicted and displaced tenants, refused to make repairs, and made homes uninhabitable. Altman Management Company, LLC has been highlighted by the Save the University City Townhomes movement, a resident led organization against a mass eviction happening in West Philadelphia. Altman Management received a $3.68 million dollar PPP loan. They have filed landlord/tenant complaints in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Berks, Chester, Blair, Lehigh and Bucks counties. 

The UC Townhomes is a 70 unit Section 8 Subsidy Based Project housing development located at 3900-90 Market St. in Philadelphia, PA. Built in 1983, the townhomes are located within the boundaries of the West Philadelphia neighborhood known as the Black Bottom, an historically black neighborhood largely displaced in the late 1960s through the City government use of eminent domain to make way for what is now known as “University City.” The townhomes, with land bought from the city for $1 after the Rizzo administration found itself in federal court for housing discrimination in locating section 8 sites, were built and are still owned by IBID Associates, a subsidiary of the Altman Group.

On July 8 2021, owner Brett Altman informed the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that it would not renew it’s federal tax subsidy and would put the property up for sale on July 8, 2022. Local business news reporting estimated the sale price at upwards of $100m.”

Save the UC Townhomes

Sean Dorn

Reportedly, Dorn threatened tenants refused to make repairs, and made tenants’ homes uninhabitable. Dorn has an inactive rental license. 

“​​The issues in the apartment include rapid and aggressive mold growth…I have been told by other tenants that he consistently gaslights them and insults them…the building is crumbling and he has no intention of getting things fixed”…

…my community needs to know he cannot be trusted.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

PMC Properties 

Reportedly, PMC Properties manage units across the east coast, including in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. PMC Properties has evicted tenants during the pandemic, despite the moratorium. PMC Property Group Inc. (located in Philadelphia) received two PPP loans totaling $5.42 million dollars.

Shay Ankori

Reportedly, Ankori threatens tenants, refuses to make repairs, and has made homes uninhabitable due to neglect. Reports say Ankori has scammed the city’s rental assistance program. He owns AM & PM Emergency Locksmith. Ankori does not have an active rental license.

Odin Properties

Reportedly, Odin Properties has evicted tenants, refused to make repairs, charges fees, made homes uninhabitable due to pests and structural damages, and threatened to evict tenants. During the pandemic Odin Management LLC received a $1.5 million dollar loan.

They are registered under business entity 6602845 and are affiliated with the addresses 1500 Market Street Suite 3310E Philadelphia, PA 19102 and 1200 Callowhill Street Suite 403 Philadelphia, PA, 19123 and they own many different apartments communities in Philadelphia. While Odin Properties has only filed 4 landlord/tenant complaints during the pandemic, we found that entities under different names but the same filing address, have been filing dozens of evictions. Since the pandemic began (through October 30, 2022), Workforce Homes 2 LP and Workforce Homes 3 LP have filed 62 evictions in Philadelphia.

Lublin Corporation Property Management

Reportedly, Lublin reportedly threatened to evict tenants, sent eviction notices without evicting tenants, and charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments. Online reviews indicate their neglect and incompetence. Their president is William H. Lublin. The Lublin Corporation received 2 PPP loans totaling $107,323. 

Arlene Caney

Reportedly, Caney refused to make repairs, made the home uninhabitable due to a pest infestation, and charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments. We could not locate an active rental license for Caney.

A Google review states “the landlord was also hard to reach, often blatantly disrespectful to tenants (even pushing one once), and deducted almost half of the security deposit after move out. I would highly suggest not renting this property, and avoiding other properties managed by this landlord, which include 433 S 45th St, 3943 Lancaster Ave, 4001 Spring Garden St, 4325 Baltimore Ave, 4609 Kingsessing Ave, 4611 Kingsessing Ave, 4707 Hazel Ave, and 4719 Hazel Ave.”

Paul Berkowitz (BMG) 

Reportedly, BMG and Berkowitz refused to make repairs and their maintenance staff harassed and verbally assaulted tenants. Furthermore, they made tenants homes uninhabitable due to pest infestations, raised the rent, and threatened eviction. Berkowitz has an inactive rental license. 

John Rastelli

Reportedly, Rastelli continually threatened to evict tenants despite the moratorium. Rastelli does not have an active rental license.  

“He continues to threaten [us] with eviction if there are any late payments or if someone tries to move out, and is constantly searching for ways we may have violated the lease to force us out during a pandemic.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Georgie Matthews (Bay Property Management Group) 

Reportedly, Matthews threatened to evict tenants multiple times throughout the pandemic, refused to make repairs, and refused to return security deposits. BPMG manages properties across the East coast and Philadelphia. We could not locate an active rental license for Matthews. 

“​​​​He overpacked 16 tenants including some children into the building and my apartment was leaking water for months and grew mold on the ceiling.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

New Age Realty

Reportedly, a prominent property management group in Philadelphia, NAR has refused to make repairs and has uninhabitable units due to pest infestations. They reportedly discriminate on the basis of income. They operate under the name New Age Realty Group, Inc. and are incorporated in New Jersey. They received a PPP loan of $98,900. 

.

Pennrose Management Co

Reportedly, refused to make repairs. Online reviews illustrate their negligence and predation.  PMC received a $5.13 million dollar PPP loan which reportedly retained 1 job. Their CEO is Richard K. Barnhart and their President is Mark H. Dambly.

Solomon & Abe Silber (Two River Development)

Reportedly, threatened to evict tenants, charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments, and harassed tenants. Their business entity is named Spruce Street Brothers LLC or Spruce Brothers LP. Two River LLC received a PPP loan of $4,600. Their business license for a listed property (848723) expired August 2021.

We could not find an active rental license for Solomon. Abe’s expired in September 2021.

James Brown & Shareea Lateef

Reportedly refused to return security deposits. We could not find any active rental license information on Brown or Lateef.

“Upon move out, he refused to answer any calls, texts or emails to return deposit…he does this all the time and is brought to court over and over again and keeps getting away with it.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

EGE Management

Reportedly, EGE refused to make repairs and made homes uninhabitable due to neglect.

“There are other red flags that indicate this company and landlord might not be who they are saying they are.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

David Lasus (Pennmark Management Company)

Reportedly, Lasus cut utility service, refused to make repairs, and/or changed locks. Lasus was formerly employed by Pennmark Management Company where he was their Leasing and Development Manager. He was also the former Chief Operating Officer of Insomnia Cookies. He now is the Chief Executive Officer of Heart + Paw.

Pennmark Management Company is a real estate developer based in Montgomery County.

Greenzang Properties

Reportedly, GP refused to make repairs and threatened tenants with bodily harm. GP has 10 active businesses entities registered under the same address. They a receiving an ongoing PPP loan of $375,000. GP is owned by Michael Greenzang and they claim to own over 500 apartments as of 2014. They have filed multiple landlord/tenant complaints, before and during the pandemic.

“…threatened to cut down through the floor and rain debris onto my possessions unless I complied.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Everett Love (TCS Property Management) 

Reportedly refused to make repairs and made homes uninhabitable. TCS Property Management received a $268,000 PPP loan through TCS Management LLC. Positive online reviews show their dedication to landlords whose properties they assist in managing; this greatly differs from reviews from tenants.

“​​They just sold the house so they got away with doing all of this stuff dangerously wrong and almost never fixing anything and still got a ton of money – it’s disgusting.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Kyle Hong Ping (KHP Property Management LLC)

Reportedly refused to make repairs, raised rent in an attempt to displace tenants, and withheld security deposits. Ping has an inactive rental license. KHPPM received a $66,834 PPP loan.

“Do not trust this landlord.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Patricia & Narinder Garg

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants, refused to make repairs, entered homes without notice, and made tenants feel unsafe.

Anchor Real Estate

Reportedly, ARE refused to make repairs and threatened to evict tenants during the pandemic. Anchor Real Estate LLC is owned by Edwin Lau.

“Tried to evict me during the moratorium on evictions, would trespass, would be verbally aggressive, and continued to threaten eviction with fake eviction notices.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Linda Corsover (Elfant Pontz)

Reportedly refused to make repairs and increased rent during the pandemic. Elfant Pontz manages rentals across Philadelphia and is owned by Martin Elfant. Elfant received a $274,400 PPP loan. 

Kirby Kean (Leroy E. Kean Inc.)

Reportedly, the home was made uninhabitable due to refused repairs. Kean currently has an inactive rental license. Online reviews are overwhelmingly negative.

“It is genuinely difficult to breathe in this home.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Michael Brunner & Kathryn Blessington (Compass Realty / Philly Proper Real Estate)

Reported for predatory behavior and general carelessness before the pandemic. Blessington is now located at Philly Proper Real Estate. She received an individual PPP loan of $14,887. We could not find a rental license for either Brunner or Blessington.

Arts & Crafts Holdings

Reportedly, Arts & Crafts Holdings was submitted to the project for their poor treatment of tenants. Arts and Crafts Holdings operates commercial properties in Philadelphia. Their General Partners are Aaron Cohen and Craig Grossman. The corporation received a $398,000 PPP loan. They were featured in a 2019 Inquirer article for wrongly terminating their tenant’s lease.

“The landlord for this commercial property has come into the Philadelphia market by purchasing over 15 properties that are falling apart…They have also disregarded individuals with disabilities and seem to not comply with ADA standards for their buildings…They have also been known to terminate leases for anyone who threatens to release the poor conditions or speaks out publicly…”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Alejandro Senderowicz 

Reportedly, the landlord refused to make repairs, made the home uninhabitable, and threatened rent increases. He has an inactive rental license. 

Torey Doaty

Reportedly, Doaty reportedly cut utility service, refused to make repairs, and/or changed locks, and charged fees, penalties, or interest due to untimely rent payments. We could not find an active rental license for Doaty.

David Burnett (Camly Lane Estates)

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants, made the home uninhabitable due to refused repairs and pest infestations, and withheld security deposits due to reportedly fabricated claims. LWP could not find an active rental license for Burnett.

Avi, Allen, and Yehuda Click & Celia Manstein

Reportedly, the landlords evicted tenants and made tenants’ homes uninhabitable due to unpermitted construction. They reportedly operate under various LLCs including Kadimah Development LLC, YSG Investment LLC, YSG Investments LLC, Y&G Real Estate LLC, Hadassah Investments LLC.

Erik Williams (Fred Williams)

Reportedly, Williams owns property in West Philadelphia. He refused to make repairs, withheld security deposits, and made the unit uninhabitable.  

“​​Property manager is a master gaslighter who will try to persuade you that you’re imagining the safety concerns.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Zhen Cheng Li & Albert Wong

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants and refused to make essential repairs. We could not find an active rental license for Wong.

Ken Tomcsuk

Reportedly, Tomcsuk evicted tenants and made tenants’ homes uninhabitable due to pest infestations. We could not find an active rental license for Tomcsuk.

Eran Albuher (E&A Investments LLC)

Reportedly, Albuher reportedly raised rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants, cut utility service, refused to make repairs, and/or changed locks, and made the tenants’ home uninhabitable due to a pest infestation. While Albuher does have an active rental license, he received a $15,892 PPP loan as an events promoter. He has a history of filing landlord/tenant complaints.

“​​He raised our rent by 30% and gave us 2 days notice.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

John Wei (Osage Realty Investment LLC) 

Reportedly, cut utility service, refused to make repairs, and/or changed locks and made tenants’ homes uninhabitable. 

 Lawrence Resnick (Bridgeline CRE LLC)

Reportedly, Resnick refuses to make repairs that threaten tenant safety. Resnick currently has an active commercial, but not a rental license. Resnick owns Resnick Development with his partner Francis Mangubat. Resnick Development Co LLC received two PPP loans totaling $93,999.

Knickerbocker Properties

Reportedly, Knickerbocker properties threatened to evict tenants during the pandemic, raised rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants, refused to make repairs and intimidated tenants. Online reviews corroborate their treatment of tenants during the pandemic.  The president of KP is Thomas F. Donatucci. Donatucci has filed multiple landlord/tenant complaints. Their office in Edgmont, PA received a $57,039 PPP loan under “Knickerbocker Propertoes Inc”.

Avi Borgstein (217 Group LLC)

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants during the pandemic, rented units to others while tenants were occupying them, changed locks, and cut off utilities. The 217 Group has filed multiple landlord/tenant complaints.

Nathan Hummel

Reportedly, Hummel refused to make repairs, threatened to evict, and sent eviction notices to tenants during the pandemic.

Augustus Riley Jr. (The Riley Group)

Reportedly refused to return security deposits and threatened eviction. An online review corroborates unprofessionalism and mistreatment. We could not locate an active rental license for Riley.

Gagandeep Lakhmna

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants, changed locks, charged fees, cut utility services, and refused to make repairs. Online reviews illustrate one of his building’s conditions. The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote a piece about Lakhmna’s unwelcome development efforts in 2021. He is also the owner of Greenpointe Construction Inc. We could not locate any active license under his name.

In September 2021, Frank Sanders, a property manager who worked under Lakhmna was arrested for “pocketing thousands of dollars in residents’ rent money”.

“Lakhmna [the building owner] then told residents anything they paid Sanders was void, and accused them of being in on the scheme despite having no evidence. He filed a lawsuit against Sanders and the tenants, and began locking people out of their units and the building, forcing some residents and their children to sleep in their cars or on friends’ couches. Some tenants’ utilities were also cut off.”

Ellie Rushing (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Delanie Andrews

Reportedly, Andrews reportedly evicted tenants during the pandemic and charged fees, penalties, or interest. Andrews has an inactive rental license and has a history of filing landlord/tenant complaints.

George Pappas

Reportedly, the landlord made the home uninhabitable and dangerous. Pappas reportedly lied about a lead infestation that led to lead poisoning during the pandemic. He does not have an active rental license.

Cy’ryi Washington-Diaz 

Reportedly evicted tenants, threatened to evict tenants, refused to make repairs, made homes uninhabitable, and reportedly retaliated against and harassed tenants. 

Ilene Pearlman

Reportedly, Pearlman threatened to evict tenants. We could not locate an active rental license for Pearlman.

“…the landlord definitely can’t be trusted.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Jean Marie Truelle

Reportedly, Truelle refused to make repairs. According to online reviews, Truelle worked for LYL Realty. LYL Realty is registered under Loving Your Living LLC which received two PPP loans totaling $41,600. Truelle now has an active rental license under Truelle LLC, which appears to be registered in New York, but we could not find any additional information on the LLC.

Keith Halpern

Reportedly refused to make repairs and made the home uninhabitable due to neglected repairs and pests. We could not locate an active rental license for Halpern.

“He and his “handyman” are misogynistic and belittled everything we brought to him that was an issue, blamed everything on us when everything that was a problem was already there.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

N Property Group

Reportedly, N Property Group has refused to make repairs and made tenants homes uninhabitable due to the neglect. Tenants have also reported positive lead paint tests. N Property Group was founded by Douglas Martindale and John Antonelli and is based in Ardmore.

Wendy and Angela Hou

Reportedly broke agreed-upon terms with tenants. We could not locate a rental license for either.

“They would come in and out 4-5 times a week without any sort of warning and noted that they were out in the world working during this time. They did not take any COVID-19 precautions and would bring other people into our home, telling us they would be wearing masks, and then the people would not wear masks the entire time they were in our home.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Shireen Malik 

Reportedly, Shireen and Arif Malik attempted to evict tenants during the pandemic. The landlord also reportedly refused to make repairs, and harassed and retaliated against tenants who attempted to organize. The Malik’s are dentists and they received two PPP loans for their practice totaling $18,950.

Mark Zwick (JBMP Group)

Reportedly, Zwick left the home uninhabitable due to vermin and pest infestations. Zwick has a history of filing landlord/tenant complaints. Online reviews illustrate mixed experiences with Zwick but many mention pests, withheld security deposits, and his treatment of tenants. JBMP was founded by Maria Pacitti and they received a PPP loan of $47,043.

“Was a horrible landlord, will take advantage of you.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Shaquanna Monroe

Reportedly, threatened to evict tenants during the pandemic and reportedly threatened tenants with bodily harm. 

Conrex

Reportedly, Conrex is a nationwide property management company who was submitted for evicting tenants and for their coercive and abusive tactics. Based in South Carolina, Conrex Property Management, LLC is registered as entity 7224578 and their state of incorporation is Delaware. Based on results from Philadelphia’s Atlas property search tool, the properties Conrex manages in Philadelphia are owned by Okh-Ph Owner, LLC. Okh-Ph is registred to an address in South Carolina and the owner is Mark Spector.

Conrex Property Management received a $1.34 million PPP loan. Conrex has filed 7 landlord/tenant complaints in Philadelphia since the pandemic began and Okh-Ph Owner, has filed 1. Mark Spector has filed 180 landlord/tenant complaints in Philadelphia from 2012 through 2022; 3 have been filed since the pandemic began. Allegedly, Conrex is known to file for ejectment instead of evictions. Furthermore, tenants report Conrex often fails to respond to maintenance and repair requests.

“Tenants report that they have been locked out of their payment portals and then Conrex has threatened eviction for nonpayment. Conrex has told tenants they cannot make payment agreements or accept partial payment, citing that Pennsylvania is “not a partial payment state…”

Testimony to LWP

Linda Glass (Compass Real Estate) 

Reportedly, rent was raised in an attempt to displace tenants, disobeyed COVID-19 protocols, and attempted to sell units that tenants were occupying. Glass has an inactive rental license; it expired February 2021. 

Nachman Zada (Zada Holdings, LLC)

Reportedly, Zada made homes uninhabitable, threatened tenants and refused to make repairs. Zada is the owner of Zada Holdings which has an inactive rental license. Zada has mixed online reviews.

Avshalom Salmon

Reportedly illegally withheld security deposit and made the home uninhabitable due to refused repairs. Salmon has an inactive rental license.

“Our landlord kept refusing to pay a competent plumber to come fix the problem, so it took about four weeks since we brought it to his attention before it was resolved.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Jaleel Kinsey (Nia Management)

Reportedly, Kinsey reportedly refused to apply for emergency rental assistance, refused to make repairs, and threatened to evict tenants. Kinsey does not have an active rental license. Kinsey is listed as a contact for Nia Management LLC which is based in Havertown. He owns KP Investments.

Rory Scerri-Marion (Ampere Capital Group)

Reportedly, the landlord refused to make repairs, made the home unlivable due to safety concerns, and general negligence. Scerri-Marion has an inactive rental license and Ampere Capital Holdings LLC received two PPP loans totaling $223,290. Scerri-Marion is the President of ACG.

“The handyman found dangerous, hot, and incompetently wired outlets and fans all over and began to rewire these to remedy the situation. [ACG] was angry that he was doing that, and they wanted him to keep the dangerous wiring in place because he was blowing their budget.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Pike:

Michael Miller

Reportedly, Miller evicted tenants, raised rent during the pandemic in an attempt to displace tenants, harassed tenants, and illegally terminated leases. Miller has filed 22 landlord/tenant complaints in Pike County between 2016 and 2022; 5 of these complaints were filed during the pandemic.

“Michael Miller has a notorious reputation of being a terrible landlord, running legally gray business screwing over his tenants. He owns a lot of units at the Falls Community in Saw Creek Estates in Bushkill, PA. He raised rents on me without the proper notice then when I brought it up he terminated my lease and verbally harassed me.”

Tenant testimony to LWP

Washington:

Quentin Trisler (Strategic Development Solutions LLC)

Reportedly evicted and murdered a tenant while threatening eviction.

On September 1, 2021, Trisler murdered Leonard Williams Jr., in front of his children, while posting an eviction notice. The Washington County DA decided not to charge Trisler citing the Castle Doctrine.

Westmoreland:

Toll House Apartments / A R Building Company

Reportedly threatened to evict tenants during the pandemic. This building is located in Greensburg but A R Building has properties across Pennsylvania. ​​

Charles Schade

Reportedly, Schade evicted tenants, threatened to evict tenants, refused to make repairs, and made homes uninhabitable due to leaks, mold, and utility shutoffs. He has filed 90 landlord/tenant complaints between 2009-2022. In 2012, it was reported that Schade owned over 50 units in Jeannette, and one of his units endangered children. In 2020, it was reported that he endangered the lives of firefighters and his neighbors due to numerous violations at his rental properties.

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