Save Malden from "Slum Landlords" "Absentee Landords" Time for city officials to enforce the building codes. WHERE ARE OUR ELECTED city councillors on this issue?

Hmmm. when the city pushes to build as much as they can, when city counselors have zoning changes made for their benefit to profit on real estate deals, and then take the money and run, what do you expect. The city already punishes non owner occupied properties by taxing them at a higher rate. What exactly would you like them to do? Are you advocating being a rent-controlled city? The city owns a lot of property already where they control the rent. A PRIVATE corporation, whether you like it or not, has the right to make a profit. If the rent they charge is too high, too many people will move out, and they will lose money. People have the right to move out too.

Look into this situation. Was making above average profits on sub-par apartments
Made a poor business situation and forced out over 50 rent paying customers and trying to evict 30 more "NO fault evictions" Why not negotiate with present tenents for fair and reasonable rent NOT GREED withour upgrade of properities

Thursday, August 6th, 2012. Wait- huh?

I applaud the effort by Mr. Faisal. The only way we are ever going to get Malden on the path to being a clean and safe city to raise a family is to get rid of the countless "affordable housing" options that are so prevelant in this city. I for one am tired of dealing with issues in this city brought on by these tenament houses. Simple formula people, higher rents increase property values which bring in a higher class of people. Look no further than Sommerville and Charlestown for examples of this in recent years. As a longtime resident and taxpayer in this city I fully support any effort to make Malden a safer and more desirable place for businesses and residents alike.

I am pretty sure these apartments aren't tenament houses. These are people who have been unfairly pressured to move by a bullying landlord. Do your homework before you make such stupid statements. Malden is going to move forward by forcing people out of their homes? One of the most ignorant comments of all time here.

Said by someone who probably lives in one or knows someone who does. I challenge you to enter the foyer of one of these buildings in the downtown Malden area and see how they are treated and kept, it's dismaying. I concur with ConcernedMaldenCitizen. While I feel for these people NOW because they have become accustomed to paying much lower than the average rent for a very long time, I applaud anyone willing to take on such a task in hopes of improving Malden. In the process, the owner is increasing their profits I know - but how is that our business? The new rents the owner is asking are what other units in the area are being charged, even less. Is anyone printing that? The question here is this. Why should people renting a space have a right or say in how the owner chooses to use the property when the owner is the entity taking on all the risk? The whole concept is absurd.

I don't live in one but I have done my homework on the owner. You should do the same. Forcing people out of their homes to fill a building with section 8 because it pays more helps Malden how Amy?

Perhaps Mickey is right. We shouldn't focus on raising the value of our city or cleaning up the criminal element that makes it impossible for families to feel safe in the square. Let's just keep inviting a negative element to Malden with cheap rents and dollar stores. Perhaps we can become Roxbury north.

Phe, your comments are excellent and on target. *Applause*

Concerned obviously has no reading comprehension.

Just because we don't agree does not mean that I am not informed. Insulting people really just cheapens the debate don't you think? I don't agree with you, simple as that. We are only hearing one side of the story, the bleeding heart part of it. The owner will have their version, and the truth will lie somewhere in between. I don't know where you could research anything on this owner because the only story out there is the sensational one, the typical media hype on what will sell the most papers. Perhaps there is another perspective we can look at besides people getting upset at paying fair market value for their homes. If I don't pay my mortgage, should I be allowed to live in my house? Should I picket?

I really feel bad for these people. The increases are rediculous. I allways thought there was a limit to what a landlord can raise the rent. Well if this guy is doing this to rent to section 8's You can bet they will be comming in from all over. Like Moses opening the Mystic River. How can you do this to people? Now I know what Eddy Murphy was talkin about whne he had his famouse joke about the Lanlord.

I feel for the tenants in this economy and I can appreciate the stress they may be feeling but they do not own the property.
That's it. It is not their property.

To the residents of the apartments ...take pictures of everything thats wrong about where you are living..ask a friend or neighbor to photograph if you don't have a camera. If you are being harassed at anytime or even entering your building, dial a number as you enter the building that can go to your answering machine or a friends answering machine so you can record any harassments or abuse ..if it escalates to verble assaults/ verble hate.. dial 911. I use to a landlord and I don't think its right to force anyone out. If you are disabled or are a vet, the laws are in your favor about eviction..disabled and veterans are given up to one year to find housing. I will be at your protest tomorrow. Have your cameras ready to documaent what may or may not happen. Your group can also file an injuction to delay the evictions. contact the disability commission in boston..and veterans affairs office..Good Luck..The way we treat people is how we want to be treated is Gods law.

I once owned a two family in Malden and about 6 months into a new tenants stay they asked if I could lower the rent a couple hundred dollars.......I said no, they moved out a few months later. I guess I could've asked the bank to lower my mortgage payments, but I think we all know what the answer would've been......NO. Good luck to the tenants but, this guy is out to make money not friends. I just have one question, some say the building is in deplorable condition, was the city notified and calls made to the former owner? or was it ok because the rents were so low?

No negotation with the tenents on fair market rent and rent raises (plus condition of apts on State Sanitary Code) Rent raise or fair and reasonable rent decided by a judge. The Landlord can ask for anything but the reasonable rent to be decided by a court jury.and judge
Check Landlord rights and also Tentants rights.

Howard, When did the condition of the apartments become such that you state the state sanitary code when speaking ? Is market rate fair to you? A 2 BR in Malden averages $1100-$1500+ a whole bunch more if you want luxury. A 1 BR $900 $1300+. Some landlords are now charging for water. What is reasonable to you?

Hi Micheal. I have lived in this complex (349 Pleasant Street) for 27 years with a fair relationship with the former owners. Had a one year lease with a key deposit and last months rent deposit renewed as a tenant at will on the anniversity date with an adjustment of rent raise and incease of money to the last months rent This was done for the 26 years w/interest paid on the last months rent by the landlord. I have receipts for the payment of rent for 27 yearly rent payment without "missing a beat"
These are older apartments and the landlord had trouble maintaining to meet the State Sanitary Code but did maintain basic repairs.
The question is not the rent raise on an anniversary date but the reasonable amout
(not 200 to 300 dollars accross the board )the day after purchase with notes under the door
WE MTU are asking for fair negotiations with the group because of the blanket notice
received affecting the 266 Units.Uprgrade the Apts and get a fair market value dermined by negotation not using the eviction process Join us a the protest at the Malden Court House (meet the tenents and Alpha representatives for the whole story!! I resent the insinuations about the charater and background of the Tenents
with misinformed blank statments

Had lots of plumbing and electral proplems used cosmetic methods of painting over the walls and scrapping the mold. Lead paint probems (still exists) with children under six To name a few. New landlord had 7 apts in one of the building inspected be Board of heath for occupancy code inspection 5 failed. Need upgrades to qualify for habitation. MAKE THE APARTMENT MEET CODE!!
negotiate don',t push for eviction Empty Apts not being scooped up!!!

The new owners purchased the property and must have known what they were getting and what resposibilities went with the purchase. No one is questioning their rights as a Landlord but asking to respect the Tenants rights as well. The issue is why not negoiate a settlement not use underhanded tactics and the courts to make the decision. Buying a property that needs an upgrade to not only meet the criteria of a "Market Rate" for Malden but "habitabilty" and next day order to quit or pay 200 to 300 dollar increase is unreasnable.Why not test the Market by renting the empty apartments that are rentable and deal with the MTU on a reasoanable basis of negotion not intimidation.

Contact: Alice Alisme, Malden /Medford Tenants United (617) 2UNIFY/(617)286-4397; maldentenantsunited@gmail.com)
Have a question why nnot address the writer of the article?
I also would suggest on thos issue affecting Malden issues our City coucillors of Ward 3 and Ward4 and at large get invloved!!

First off Amy. Chris did not write this. Look closer.

Isn't this building housing for seniors? Either or I do not like what I read about this landlord.

The Mayor stood on the court house steps in support for his friend who's house was going to be foreclosed on, will he do the same for our seniors?

Amy read up on this landlord. I know you don't like reading negative stories, but look into him. He shouldn't even be allowed to own anything. Put a crossing guard vest on him and stand him at the doors of city hall.

Doesn't section H housing have very specific quality standards otherwise the building losing the right to rent to section H tenants? I'm not sure, just wondering if anyone knows of the bat. Not sure whose enforcing or watches the landlord practices for section H, Local? State? Federal?