Tenants rally against Chestnut Holdings over unsafe living conditions

Residents rallied again this week outside the company's offices in Riverdale, calling for immediate repairs and accusing the landlord of neglect and broken promises.

Jodi-Juliana Powell

Oct 3, 2025, 9:52 PM

Updated 1 hr ago

Share:

Rodent infestations, collapsing ceilings and homeless individuals sheltering in hallways are just some of the conditions tenants say they’re forced to live with in buildings managed by Chestnut Holdings, one of New York City’s most notorious landlords. Residents rallied again this week outside the company's offices in Riverdale, calling for immediate repairs and accusing the landlord of neglect and broken promises. At the heart of the tenants’ frustration are basic repairs they say have gone unaddressed for months, including broken front doors, crumbling tiles and unsafe hallways. Residents say the lack of secure entryways has turned their buildings into open spaces for trespassers and drug users. “The lock is broke. They just put duct tape,” one tenant said. “People just push the door open.” Others say they regularly find individuals passed out in the hallways or using drugs in common areas, making residents feel unsafe in their own homes. “Two drug addicts on the second floor, and on the third floor laying down,” said another tenant. This week’s demonstration mirrored a similar rally held in May, when Chestnut Holdings staff briefly came outside to hear tenants’ concerns. Back then, residents outlined a list of needed repairs, including fixing holes, replacing countertops and addressing long-standing plumbing issues. But five months later, residents say none of those issues have been resolved. “They came, looked at the apartment, took pictures, and I never heard anything else,” one tenant said. Tenants say they are paying rent but not receiving the most basic services in return. “We’re paying our rent, yet we’re not getting the help we need,” one resident said. “After this, we’re hoping we can get some kind of hope.” Unlike in May, no one from Chestnut Holdings came outside during this latest rally. “They’re lousy. They don’t care about us,” one tenant said. “All they want is for us to move out.” Tenants say they’re not going anywhere and they’re not backing down. They plan to keep organizing until their demands for safe, livable conditions are met.