Attorney General Letitia James has halted a landlord’s abusive practices targeting University at Albany students, following an investigation that uncovered widespread violations of state housing laws.
Asaf Elkayam and his company, Jerusalem Management, LLC, managed more than 200 rental units near the university. According to the attorney general’s office, Elkayam charged illegal application and cleaning fees, imposed unlawful penalties, and allowed workers to enter apartments without giving tenants advance notice.
“Asaf Elkayam took advantage of his tenants, many of whom were college students and first-time renters,” said Attorney General James. “No New Yorkers should have to fear that their landlord may enter their home unannounced, or worry about paying outrageous fees just to rent an apartment.”
The settlement, announced April 21, requires Elkayam to pay $8,000 in penalties and reform all future leasing practices. Under the agreement, he must remove deceptive lease provisions, notify tenants before entering units, and limit fees to those allowed by law. Tenants will also receive the state’s official Residential Tenants’ Rights Guide when signing or renewing a lease.
The Office of the Attorney General began its investigation in 2022 after receiving complaints referred by the City of Albany. The probe revealed several violations, including application fees exceeding $20, excessive cleaning charges like $100 for a refrigerator or oven, and a $75-per-day penalty for remaining in an apartment after lease expiration. One student reported repeated early-morning visits by maintenance staff without notice.
Except for one property, all of Jerusalem Management’s 85 buildings are near the University at Albany and primarily serve student renters.
The case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Christopher Lee, with oversight from Assistant Attorney General Vinita Kamath and support from Elizabeth Gavin, all of the Poughkeepsie Regional Office.
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