Nigerian-Born Landlord of Collapsed NYC Building Had History of Housing Violations — City Council

A Nigerian-born property owner whose building collapsed in Brooklyn, New York City, killing eight people, had a long history of housing violations, according to city records and officials.

The landlord, identified as Olufemi Falade, owned the residential building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, which collapsed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, while construction work was taking place on an adjoining property.

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams disclosed that Falade had appeared on the city’s annual Worst Landlord Watchlist six times over the last decade, most recently in 2024.

The list included his ranking at number 95 in 2024, number 100 in 2022, number 68 in 2021, number 50 in 2020, number 66 in 2019 and number 93 in 2017.

According to reports citing city records, the collapsed property had 98 outstanding housing violations before the incident. The reported problems included leaks, bedbugs and other maintenance concerns.

Falade had also reportedly faced previous legal consequences over housing violations involving other properties. Reports said he was jailed for 12 days and fined $50,000 in 2006 after failing to address more than 1,800 violations across several buildings.

City Council Member Farah Louis called for a comprehensive investigation into the property’s structural inspection records, permits, outstanding violations and maintenance history.

She said the investigation should establish whether negligence or ignored safety complaints contributed to the collapse and ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable.

The city’s Department of Buildings has opened an investigation into the incident, while emergency and other relevant agencies have been involved in the response.

Public Advocate Williams said the landlord’s documented history of property maintenance failures required scrutiny, although authorities had yet to establish the cause of the collapse.

The incident has renewed concerns about housing safety, enforcement of building regulations and accountability among property owners in New York City.

Officials are expected to examine the building’s history and the construction activities taking place next door as part of efforts to determine what caused the deadly collapse.