Real Estate Law Archives - Tanya Hobson-Williams

Last updated by Tanya Hobson-Williams at June 26, 2026.

Man Arrested For Stealing Deed to 92-Year Old Woman’s Home

NY Attorney General Letitia James recently announced the arrest of a man who is accused of stealing the deed to a 92-year old woman’s home. This theft involved taking advantage of the victim’s diminished mental state, tricking her into signing away her home using forged documents, among other crimes. The arrest highlights the ongoing issue of deed theft, and in particular the ways in which dishonest people will take advantage of the elderly and other vulnerable populations.

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Analysis Estimates $400m in NYC Homes At Risk of Deed Theft

According to a recent Gothamist article, it was estimated that around $400 million in homes across New York City are at potential risk of deed theft. This vulnerability is the result of ongoing ownership disputes that make it easier for opportunists to potentially take control of different properties. These issues point to the importance of effective estate planning, as well as ensuring you have experienced legal representation to prevent this from happening to you or someone you love.

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New Law Would Cut Back Squatters’ Rights

A recently introduced bill would attempt to roll back squatters’ rights in New York, making it easier for landlords to remove tenants occupying the premises illegally. The bill comes after a high profile case involving a woman arrested for changing the locks on a property she owns and alleged that there were squatters occupying the premises. If successful, the bill could have a dramatic effect on the rights of tenants throughout New York, not just for squatters.

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Covenants and Easements

If you’ve ever been involved in buying or selling real estate, you might’ve heard about “covenants” and “easements,” and maybe even had to go through some bureaucratic pains to deal with them. They’re certainly an important part of any discussion about the sale of property, since they can seriously impact how you use and enjoy that property. But what is a covenant or an easement, and how could it impact the sale of your property? Continue reading “Covenants and Easements”

Landlord Who Bilked Banks out of Millions of Dollars Sued for Harassment

An East Village landlord who was recently arrested for allegedly taking out millions of dollars in loans through fraudulent means is also facing a civil lawsuit filed by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. According to an article by Crains New York Business, it is alleged that the landlord illegally harassed tenants in the rent-regulated apartments he owned by attempting to have them evicted so he could charge higher rents.

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Attorney General Focuses on Landlord-Tenant Harassment Claim

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has launched an investigation into the allegedly illegal tactics used to force rent-stabilized tenants out of their homes implemented by multi-million dollar landlord, Steven Croman.

According to reports, the Attorney General is investigating potential violations of city and state laws, including numerous infractions related to tenant harassment.

This week Schneiderman issued a “cease and desist” order to one of Cromans employees, ex-NYPD officer Anthony Falconite. Tenants allege that Falconite, a private investigator, has engaged in a campaign of harassment and intimidation in an effort to force them out.

According to recounts by numerous tenants, Croman regularly files frivolous lawsuits, ignores repairs, and resorts to a number of unsavory tactics in an effort to remove current tenants so that he can rent units at much higher rates. Continue reading “Attorney General Focuses on Landlord-Tenant Harassment Claim”

Buyouts as a Method of Tenant Harassment

As New York City rent prices continue to increase, the demand for housing has made rent-controlled apartments an even more precious commodity. Indeed, many landlords seeking to earn a sizeable profit in the current sellers’/renter’s market have engaged in “buying out” their tenants’ lease agreements.

In some situations, a buyout can effect a sizeable and worthwhile payout to both the landlord and the tenant. However, there has become an increasing trend of meager buyout offers to lower-income tenants. These paltry offers, if successful, have the potential to displace lower income individuals in the face of New York’s ever increasing rental prices. Furthermore, recent reports have suggested that these buyout offers have been used more as instruments of illegal tenant harassment than simple mutually-beneficial business propositions. Continue reading “Buyouts as a Method of Tenant Harassment”

Bronx Residents Claim Landlord Is Ignoring Tenant Safety

Bronx residents and local officials are urging a Jerome Park landlord to update security after a string of burglaries at the Bronx apartment building. Tenants of the building claim they have been robbed blind over the past two years, and some are even convinced that it may be an inside job.

Despite reporting the thefts to the 52nd Precinct and landlord (American Rental Masters), tenants at the 49-unit building say nothing has been done. They claim that the thefts have been a tenant safety issue for over 2 years!

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New York City Tenant Sues Landlord for Negligence

Almost everyone has heard of a story about someone walking into their apartment and realizing they’ve been robbed. But have you ever heard of a story where they stole the bed, the curtains and everything in between? Well that’s what Upper East Side resident, Nilay Shroff, is claiming he experienced in October 2013, when he found his apartment stripped of almost everything in an apparent “mistaken robbery.”

Mr. Shroff, a 27-year-old software maker alleged that late one night in October 2013, he entered his Yorkville apartment to find the shock of a life time; almost everything was gone. Once police arrived, Shroff and the officers became suspicious of the incident since the apartment burglary did not fit the details of a usual occurrence in multiple ways. Continue reading “New York City Tenant Sues Landlord for Negligence”