NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James Tuesday secured $400,000 for tenants of The Kenney Apartments in Newburgh and an agreement from the owners of the complex to make all the necessary repairs to ensure tenants’ homes are safe and livable. For years, Kenney residents have endured dangerous conditions, including a consistent lack of heat and hot water through cold winters, pest infestations, broken windows and doors, mold, water and sewage leaks into their homes, and other hazards. In February 2026, Attorney General James sued the owners of The Kenney Apartments, which is home to more than 100 low-income residents, for failing to fix dozens of code violations that have led to inhospitable conditions. As a result of Attorney General James’ intervention, the owners of the apartment complex will refund $400,000 in rent payments to tenants, make all repairs necessary to fix every outstanding building code violation, and make regular reports to OAG of all tenant complaints, repairs made, and plans to fix any new violations.
“The owners of The Kenney Apartments neglected their tenants for years, forcing vulnerable New Yorkers to endure cold winters without heat and other horrendous conditions,” said Attorney General James. “While there is still work to be done to ensure these tenants have a clean and safe place to live, my office is determined to hold these owners accountable. This case should be a warning to landlords throughout our state: if you ignore your tenants’ complaints and fail to address code violations, my office will make you pay for your negligence.”
Attorney General James sued the owners and managers of The Kenney Apartments in February of this year for violating state laws by failing to properly maintain the buildings and apartments. The complex’s buildings have accumulated dozens of code violations, and residents have suffered in dangerous conditions that put their health and safety at risk. A lack of consistent heat and hot water forced tenants to endure cold winters by heating their homes with space heaters, which caused their electricity bills to skyrocket. Residents also reported mold and mildew that have caused illnesses, sewage leaking into their homes, and broken appliances that haven’t been fixed in years. One resident, who suffers from diabetes and needed a working refrigerator for her insulin, reported that her repeated calls to fix her broken refrigerator were ignored by her landlord.
Under the settlement with Office of the Attorney General (OAG), the owners and managers of The Kenney Apartments must take immediate action to repair the complex’s buildings and fix all outstanding code violations to ensure tenants have safe and habitable apartments. These repairs include mold remediation, plumbing fixes, repairs to doors, windows, floors, and walls, new paint, and more. The owners must also pay $409,697 back to tenants as a rent abatement for the months they lived in unsafe conditions. If the owners violate the settlement, they will be liable for a $100,000 penalty. To ensure the owners comply, the settlement requires them to make monthly reports to OAG documenting their progress and any new issues that arise. These reports must include details of all tenant complaints and actions taken to investigate them, all repairs done to correct code violations, any ongoing repairs, and any new code violations, along with a plan to address them.
“The residents who endured dangerous, substandard, and irresponsible conditions at the hands of the owners of the Kenney and Bourne apartments are finally getting the justice they deserve,” said Orange County Legislator Genesis Ramos. “Not only will repairs move forward, but these tenants will be reimbursed for rent they should never have had to pay while living in these conditions. Let this be a message to any landlord in the City of Newburgh who thinks they can get away with treating our community members this way: you will face consequences. We will not allow anyone to normalize substandard living conditions for our residents. I thank the Attorney General for continuing to fight for New Yorkers, and for bringing accountability to bad actors.”
“For years, Kenney residents were ignored. Today, they’ve achieved something many haven’t and it’s all due to their organizing and steadfast efforts,” said Newburgh City Councilmember Tamika Stewart. “I thank Attorney General James for taking action to hold these landlords accountable and ensure The Kenney’s residents are made whole.”
“This settlement represents more than a legal victory—it is a victory for the residents who endured unacceptable living conditions for far too long,” said Newburgh City Councilmember Robert D. McLymore. “Every family deserves a safe, clean, and dignified place to call home. I want to thank Attorney General Letitia James and her office for taking decisive action to hold these property owners accountable and for standing with the people of Newburgh. This outcome sends a clear message that neglecting tenants and violating basic housing standards will not be tolerated. I remain committed to working alongside our local, state, and community partners to ensure every resident in the City of Newburgh has access to safe and habitable housing. Our work is not finished, but today is a significant step forward for our community.”
“The owners of The Kenney Apartments have completely abandoned their responsibilities,” said The Kenney Apartments tenant Gwen Griffin. “We have been left in freezing apartments without heat or hot water, and are dealing with unsafe electrical hazards, sewage leaks, and rodent infestations. We are grateful to Attorney General James for bringing this case to put an end to the inhumane conditions and get tenants the justice we deserve.”
“On behalf of myself and the tenants of the Kenney apartments, we are so glad that this is finally over,” said The Kenney Apartments tenant Wilhelmena Lamb. “We’d like to thank Attorney General James and we appreciate her for listening to us and for taking our complaints seriously.”
“For years, Kenney tenants have spoken out about the dangerous conditions their landlord forced them to live in,” said Juanita O Lewis Executive Director of Community Voices Heard. “We applaud Attorney General James’ office for standing with tenants, holding these owners accountable and securing the repairs and refunds tenants are owed. No tenant should have to wait years before an owner does what the law already requires. This is why Community Voices Heard organizes in Newburgh and across the Hudson Valley, and we will continue to organize tenants so they have the power to negotiate with their owners directly for safe and dignified housing.”
