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Cuomo’s tenant-friendly settlement with Vantage raises questions

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Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's settlement agreement announced today not only forced landlord Vantage Properties to pay $1 million, but it put all residential landlords on notice that the state's top law enforcement officer wants property owners to be more tenant-friendly than the law demands. The deal struck with Vantage forces the controversial landlord to adhere to a three-year oversight program that will force the company to stop serving baseless legal notices and frivolous Housing Court actions, Cuomo said in the statement. Cuomo was prepared to sue Vantage over the company's alleged harassment of tenants following an investigation of the company, he said. Vantage also must pay $750,000 into a tenants’ compensation fund and $250,000 to a legal and education fund. Cuomo said all landlords should follow the tighter rules, which will form a "best practices" standard in the industry.