A Brooklyn landlord has accused a Section 8 tenant couple of carrying out a lengthy “shakedown” scheme to keep control of an apartment the owner wants to sell, alleging the tenants used fake lease documents, forged signatures, and other tactics to remain tied to the property.
The allegations are part of a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court by Eretz One Realty, which claims the tenants created a legal battle over a condominium unit in Borough Park, Brooklyn, even after they had already moved out.
The landlord alleges that Lipa and Mindje Spielman, along with their five children, continued holding onto possession of the apartment by demanding a large payment before surrendering the unit.
The Spielmans deny the allegations and say the landlord is using the lawsuit to intimidate them.
Landlord Claims Tenants Refused to Give Back Apartment
According to court documents, the dispute involves a 1,300-square-foot, four-bedroom condominium unit at 3715 15th Ave. in Brooklyn.
Eretz One Realty developed the six-story, 36-unit building in 2009 and kept ownership of several units, including the apartment rented by the Spielman family.
The family moved into the unit in July 2012 and paid an initial monthly rent of $2,100 through a Section 8 housing voucher arrangement.
Lipa Spielman was listed as the tenant and voucher participant, while his wife, Mindje, was also involved in the housing arrangement, according to the lawsuit.
The landlord claims that after years of renting the property, Eretz decided in 2023 that it wanted to sell the condo and chose not to renew the family’s lease.
However, the company alleges that the Spielmans attempted to keep the apartment by submitting an unauthorized lease renewal to the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
Alleged Forged Lease Documents
Eretz claims the couple submitted a lease renewal containing forged signatures from the landlord, allowing their Section 8 rental assistance payments to continue.
The landlord’s attorney, Gary Rosen, told The New York Post that the couple allegedly created their own lease agreement and submitted it to NYCHA.
“The husband submitted a phony lease to the housing authority, signed my client’s name,” Rosen said, describing the alleged actions as a “shakedown.”
The lawsuit includes accusations of fraud and forgery.
The landlord claims that in late 2024, NYCHA approved a rent increase request raising the apartment’s rent to $3,400 per month, despite Eretz claiming it never submitted such a request.
According to Rosen, the landlord notified NYCHA’s legal department about the suspected fraudulent documents in December 2024 but claims the agency did not take action.
NYCHA Continued Payments, Lawsuit Claims
The landlord alleges that NYCHA continued making subsidy payments and later issued the Spielmans a voucher for another apartment.
Eretz claims the family received housing assistance for years while allegedly maintaining control of the condo unit.
According to Rosen, the family personally paid approximately $15,905 in rent since moving into the apartment, while NYCHA paid about $173,930 in housing subsidies.
“Imagine how much fraud is out there,” Rosen said, arguing that the case highlights possible problems with oversight of housing voucher programs.
A NYCHA spokesperson declined to comment, citing the ongoing lawsuit.
Family Says Allegations Are False
Mindje Spielman rejected the landlord’s accusations and said the claims were completely false.
She accused Eretz of using the court system to pressure the family.
“They just want my apartment. Why are they suing NYCHA?” she said.
Spielman argued that because NYCHA paid the rent on their behalf, the payments were still part of their tenancy.
She also said the family was not refusing to leave simply for money but claimed the landlord had previously promised compensation for moving out.
According to Spielman, another tenant in the building received a payment of about $40,000 to leave, with part of the money allegedly paid in cash and the rest applied toward rent.
Family Moved Out but Did Not Return the Possession
Court records show the Spielmans left the apartment on March 31, but Eretz claims they did not sign a surrender agreement or officially return possession.
The landlord says the unit has remained unavailable and that it has lost rental income because there is no active tenant.
Eretz claims the couple demanded a $100,000 payment before handing over the keys.
Rosen said the landlord offered a $25,000 settlement, but the couple rejected the offer.
“They said, ‘If you don’t pay it we’re not moving,’” Rosen claimed.
The attorney argued that the couple should not receive money because NYCHA had paid most of the rent through housing subsidies.
Spielman disputed that argument, saying that NYCHA payments still represented their housing assistance and that the landlord had previously discussed compensation.
Landlord Seeks Court Intervention
Eretz One Realty is asking the court to declare the disputed lease documents invalid, require corrections to NYCHA records, and award damages for alleged fraud, lease violations, and unpaid rent.
The company is also seeking legal possession of the apartment.
Because the Spielmans allegedly did not sign a formal surrender agreement, Rosen said the landlord needs a court order before it can fully take control of the property.
The case remains pending, and the allegations against the Spielmans have not been proven in court. The couple has denied wrongdoing.
