Home / Crime and Justice / Long Island Landlords Charged in 'Death Trap' Rental
Long Island Landlords Charged in 'Death Trap' Rental
24 Jul
Summary
- Landlords arrested for renting a death trap home to students.
- Home had deadbolt locks, lacked egress, and had too few smoke detectors.
- Students paid $700-$950 monthly for unsafe living conditions.
A husband and wife on Long Island have been arrested and charged with creating a dangerous living environment for students. Prosecutors revealed that the property they rented out was essentially a death trap, lacking essential safety features and housing an excessive number of occupants.
The home, originally a four-bedroom house, had been converted into a ten-bedroom dwelling, bursting with Stony Brook University students. Accusations include unsafe conditions such as deadbolt locks on bedroom doors, inadequate fire egress, unapproved sleeping areas, and a severe lack of smoke detectors. Tenants were allegedly paying between $700 and $950 monthly for these hazardous accommodations.
The investigation was triggered by a fire earlier this month that started in a bathroom and spread into the walls. Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze. The landlords, Juan Lin and Xingtao Liu, pleaded not guilty to 30 charges and face potential jail time and substantial fines.
