Tenants at five Jersey City apartment buildings are withholding rent, citing rats, leaks, neglected repairs and no on-site superintendent. The buildings, on Bergen, Belmont and Kensington avenues, are reportedly owned by Amir Ben-Yohanon and Optimum Properties.
The five addresses are 429 Bergen Ave., 150 and 154 Belmont Ave., and 19 and 25 Kensington Ave. Hudson County View reported that Ben-Yohanon owns 429 Bergen and both Belmont buildings, while Optimum Properties owns the Kensington properties. The outlet also reported that tenants at 429 Bergen were already on rent strike and that the Belmont buildings went without heat in winter 2024.
At a rally, Charlie, identified by Hudson County View as a tenant at 154 Belmont Ave. whose surname was not given, said the kitchen floor had been patched with screws. Tenant Luneste Alexender said she had lived in her building for 40 years and cited rats, holes and being charged for water. Bergen Grand Tenants Association president Liv Malone cited reports of rats and cracks in drooping walls. Jersey City Tenants Union organizer Eli King argued that landlords let conditions deteriorate to increase profits.
