AG: Hartford Landlord Left Apartments To Rot, Profited

HARTFORD, CT — State Attorney General William Tong's office has opened an investigation into landlord Emmanuel Ku and whether he violated the state Unfair Trade Practices Act. Ku was the landlord of the Clay Arsenal Renaissance Apartments, which "became notoriously unsafe, unsanitary, and virtually uninhabitable for its hundreds of residents," according to a statement.

In a civil investigative demand issued recently to Ku, Tong is seeking evidence regarding the maintenance and management of the building, inspections records, rental agreements, repair records, maintenance costs, tax returns and financial records, tenant recruiting records, and other documents.

"Emmanuel Ku bought Clay Arsenal at a rock bottom price, and extracted millions in federal and local subsidies based on unfulfilled promises to provide safe, affordable housing for vulnerable Hartford residents," Tong said in a statement. "He let those properties rot, and subjected his tenants – who had little to no ability to leave – to dangerous, uninhabitable conditions. Tenants reported roaches, mice, bed bugs, mildew, black mold and apartments lacking the most basic of functions, including heat and hot water, working windows, and working toilets."

Clay Arsenal includes 150 units spread out over 26 properties. Ku bought these properties in 2011 at foreclosure auction.

During the next seven years, Ku—who has been the subject of litigation and tenant complaints in five states other than Connecticut – extracted millions in subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in city tax abatements, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the properties were left to deteriorate and by 2018, Ku had racked up hundreds of HUD and city violation notices. However, tenants could not leave unless they gave up their Section 8 vouchers, which many could not afford to do.

In May of 2018, HUD cancelled its contract with Ku. In December of 2018, Ku sold the properties for a profit of $6.5 million, more than three times his purchase price. All tenants have since been given portable Section 8 vouchers and relocated from the apartment complex.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said: “Emmanuel Ku left families living in deplorable conditions while taking millions of taxpayer dollars, and this investigation sends a strong message that Connecticut will use every tool available to hold slumlords accountable.”

Tenant leader Teri Morrison said that tenants are seeking "economic justice for harms done to all of our residents."