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J

Joel Karpen

Agent·1 building·3 units
2.1

2 reviews

Highlights

No
Evictions
No
Litigation cases

Renter recommendations

-%

Renters recommend associated buildings

-%

Renters approve of this owner or associate

Reviews

Former tenant·Over 1 year ago

Too bad about the owner

Pros

Something about this place is so homey. Love the exposed beam structure and the warm lighting. The living area was big enough we could have a counter, couch, kitchen table, work desk, tv, etc. Not too loud in the street-facing area. It was a nice place for ppl who don’t like those cold renovated apartments. No amenities but it just had a good atmosphere and location. Also the rent increase was the smallest I ever had.

Cons

The owner, Joel, is ridiculous. Seriously, if you google him, you’ll see his buildings have tons of violations and he’s had his license revoked before according to some court docs?? Illegal basement unit, massive cockroach infestation and won’t send an exterminator, awful bathroom flooding, didn’t respond quickly to broken water heater and we had to call 311, wouldn’t fix busted screens or basically anything. It’s too bad because I’d have loved to remain here if it was properly maintained and Joel wasn’t constantly trying to “get away” with something.

Advice to the owners

Maybe consider…NOT breaking the law sometimes?

Former tenant·Over 3 years ago

Joel Karpen is a crook

Pros

None at all

Cons

The landlord is not helpful, tries to rent bottom unit as a 4 bedroom even though one room ha and windows and the other floods when it rains. Over priced, technically illegal basement dwellings. Massive pest problems including cockroaches Roaches AND rats. Poor management of trash areas, refuses to fix anything. Ceilings leak. Building is a fire hazard. DO NOT RENT FROM THIS MAN.

Advice to the owners

Get a life

Buildings associated with JOEL KARPEN

  • 515 Lafayette Avenue

    515 Lafayette Avenue

    2.1(2)

    Bedford-Stuyvesant

515 Lafayette Avenue

515 Lafayette Avenue

2.1(2)

Bedford-Stuyvesant

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 worse than the city average.

Owner average1.00Violations per unit
NYC average0.81Violations per unit
2Class 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

1Class 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

J

Joel Karpen

Agent·1 building·3 units
2.1

2 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.