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B

Ben Spiteri

Site Manager·1 building·20 units
2.1

3 reviews

Highlights

2
Evictions
No
Litigation cases

Renter recommendations

-%

Renters recommend associated buildings

-%

Renters approve of this owner or associate

Review summary

Summarized from anonymous rental reviews on Openigloo.

Recent tenant feedback on buildings managed by Ben Spiteri reveals a starkly mixed management experience. Some renters commend the advantageous locations and apartment sizes, appreciating amenities like in-building laundry and instances of responsive management. However, numerous reviews highlight severe issues: poor cleanliness, ineffective garbage and pest control, unreliable heating, and negligible owner responsiveness. Several tenants report hazardous conditions including mold and gas outages, with allegations of neglect and intimidation tactics by management. The overall atmosphere in some buildings is described as uncomfortable and unsafe, with concerns about building upkeep and tenant well-being. Prospective renters should expect inconsistent management quality and potential unresolved maintenance challenges.

Reviews

Former tenant·28 minutes ago

Uncle Miltie: Slumlord Multi-Millionare

Pros

Prospective renters in Manhattan should strongly reconsider any properties under the management of Milton Taube, often referred to as "Uncle Miltie." As a long-term resident of of his Upper East Side building, 208 East 88th Street, I have endured persistent and severe neglect that has rendered the living conditions untenable. Structural deficiencies abound, including pervasive mold growth that compromises air quality and health, and prolonged gas outages spanning months, prolonged gas leaks for months, forcing tenants to rely on makeshift electric hot plates for basic meal preparation—as if urban living were reduced to primitive camping. Maintenance efforts are woefully inadequate: superficial fixes, such as applying inexpensive plaster over underlying issues, invariably fail, exacerbating the problems over time. Tenants have documented instances where building superintendents merely painted over black mold with white paint, a practice that not only masks hazards but endangers residents' well-being. The management team's approach is equally reprehensible, characterized by indifference and apparent malice. Requests for assistance go unanswered, with only ambiguous notices posted on doors regarding service disruptions. There appears to be a deliberate strategy of delaying repairs to incentivize the departure of established tenants, potentially to facilitate higher rents or redevelopment. Reports of intimidation tactics—such as unwarranted eviction threats or baseless accusations of lease violations—further compound the hostility, fostering an environment of fear and instability. With ongoing violations cited by city authorities, the property verges on constituting a public nuisance, contributing to elevated stress levels among residents—personally, I have experienced significant health impacts, including heightened blood pressure—and prompting many neighbors to relocate en masse. The allure of a prime Manhattan location cannot compensate for these egregious shortcomings; this exemplifies the archetype of exploitative property management. If ratings permitted, this would warrant zero stars.

Cons

Don't take my word for it, New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/nyregion/22about.html

Advice to the owners

Remove Life Support and forced property transfer to NYCHA

Former tenant·2 months ago

Great location ues

Pros

Location Size of apartments Laundry in building

Cons

Can hear neighbors Not very clean common spaces

Buildings associated with BEN SPITERI

  • 208 East 88 Street
    Rent-stabilized

    208 East 88 Street

    2.1(3)

    Yorkville

208 East 88 Street
Rent-stabilized

208 East 88 Street

2.1(3)

Yorkville

Building ratings

Cleanliness

-

Trash management

-

Pest control

-

Water pressure

-

Heat

-

Neighbors

-

Noise levels

-

Owner responsiveness

-

Cleanliness

-

Trash management

-

Pest control

-

Water pressure

-

Heat

-

Neighbors

-

Noise levels

-

Owner responsiveness

-

Rents and deposits

-

Renters received their security deposits back

-

Electronic rent payments

Open violations

From past 10 years · Updated 5 days ago

Average violations per unit for this owner or associate is better than the city average.

Owner averageLess than 0.01Violations per unit
NYC average0.81Violations per unit
0Class C
Immediately hazardous

Rodents, pest, mold, inadequate heat or hot water, defective building parts

0Class B
Hazardous

Smoke detector issues, inadequate lighting, no lighting for stairways

0Class A
Non-hazardous

No peephole on a door, no street number on the building, unlawful keeping of animals

0Class I
Missing info

Missing or non-compliant with administrative information orders or filings

B

Ben Spiteri

Site Manager·1 building·20 units
2.1

3 reviews

Follow us

For renters

Apartments for rent in NYCRenting tips and resourcesVerified apartment listings in NYCBuildings and owners in NYCBuildings in BostonNYC market analysis reports

For landlords

iglooIQListings quality policy

Trending neighborhoods

Apartments in AstoriaApartments in Bedford-StuyvesantApartments in BushwickApartments in ChelseaApartments in Financial DistrictApartments in SohoApartments in Upper East SideApartments in Upper West SideApartments in West VillageApartments in Williamsburg

NYC boroughs

Apartments in BronxApartments in BrooklynApartments in ManhattanApartments in QueensApartments in Staten Island

2-bedroom apartments

2-bedroom apartments in Bronx2-bedroom apartments in Brooklyn2-bedroom apartments in Manhattan2-bedroom apartments in Queens2-bedroom apartments in Staten Island

Support

FAQContact usLive support

Legal

Terms of usePrivacy policyCommunity guidelinesAgency disclosureFair housing disclosureStandard operating procedures
© 2026 Openigloo Inc. All rights reserved.