HomeAmericasBusinessNew York’s ‘Worst Landlord’ Ved Parkash Faces Renewed Scrutiny

New York’s ‘Worst Landlord’ Ved Parkash Faces Renewed Scrutiny

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New York’s ‘Worst Landlord’ Ved Parkash Faces Renewed Scrutiny

Photo: The Ved Parkash building that burned on January 10. (Source: @nycemergencymgt)

India-West News Desk

NEW YORK, NY – A devastating five-alarm fire that broke out on January 10 in a Bronx apartment building has reignited scrutiny of landlord Ved Parkash, whose properties have long been criticized for unsafe conditions. The fire, caused by faulty electrical wiring, destroyed the roof of the six-story building at 2910 Wallace Avenue, displaced hundreds of tenants, and marked the third major fire in recent years at buildings owned by Parkash, according to The New York Times.

Parkash, a self-made businessman originally from Punjab, came to the United States nearly five decades ago with little more than a promise of a job. Over the years, he has built a real estate empire spanning 70 buildings across New York City, most of them located in the Bronx, as reported by The Bronx Ink. Now in his 70s, Parkash resides in Long Island and runs his business with the help of his children. Three of his four sons, all law school graduates, work alongside him, while his eldest daughter, now 42, is also involved in the business. His youngest daughter, 26, is pursuing a degree in psychology at St. John’s University, the publication said.

Photo: Ved Parkash runs his multi million dollar company from this house, his first home. 

Despite his success story, Parkash’s reputation as a landlord has been marred by allegations of neglect and disrepair at his properties. In 2015, he was named New York City’s worst landlord by then-Public Advocate Letitia James, now the state attorney general, according to The New York Times. The Wallace Avenue building alone has been the subject of over 400 complaints in the past two years, city records show, many involving a lack of heat, hot water, and pest infestations.

A pattern of unsafe living conditions has also emerged at other properties owned by Parkash. Residents at the Wallace Avenue building and other locations have reported resorting to space heaters and stoves for warmth—a dangerous practice that fire officials said also contributed to the Twin Parks fire three years ago, which claimed 17 lives, The Bronx Times reported.

In addition to tenant complaints, Parkash and his associates have faced multiple lawsuits. Court records show at least 16 active cases in Bronx and Queens courts, ranging from injuries caused by hazardous conditions to allegations of illegal subletting and tenant harassment. One lawsuit involved a scalding water incident in 2021, while others addressed partially caved-in ceilings and overcrowding in rent-stabilized units.

The Bronx Times also reported that HPD records documented 239 heat and hot water complaints at the Wallace Avenue building in the past three years. Similar patterns of neglect have been identified at other Parkash-owned properties, including 750 Grand Concourse, which has been the focus of 592 heat-related complaints.

Also Read: Gautam Adani Indicted In New York For Multibillion-Dollar Fraud, Bribery

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  • Greedy, Landlord , cutting corners to save money, should be imprisoned for 20 years, let his lawyer kids bail him out.

    January 28, 2025

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