Attorney General Schwalb Issues Statement on Court Ruling Requiring Slumlord …

A court granted a preliminary injunction on July 17, 2026, requiring landlords Sam and Houri Razjooyan to hire professional management for their properties. The ruling follows a legal action by Attorney General Schwalb to address conditions in buildings owned by the couple, who the Attorney General’s office characterizes as slumlords.

The injunction represents a court-mandated shift in the operational control of the Razjooyans’ real estate holdings. According to the Office of the Attorney General, the court’s decision forces the owners to relinquish direct oversight of the properties to a qualified third-party management firm.

This legal intervention aims to ensure that the properties meet basic habitability and safety standards. The Attorney General’s office sought the injunction to prevent further deterioration of the housing units and to protect the tenants residing in them.

The specific requirements of the injunction include the immediate appointment of a professional management company. This company will be responsible for the day-to-day operations, maintenance, and tenant communications that were previously handled by Sam and Houri Razjooyan.

Attorney General Schwalb issued a statement following the ruling, emphasizing the necessity of the court’s order to rectify the living conditions within the affected buildings. The statement frames the move as a critical step in holding the landlords accountable for the state of their properties.

The case centers on allegations of systemic neglect. The Office of the Attorney General’s request for the injunction was based on evidence of substandard housing conditions that posed risks to occupants.

Under the terms of the preliminary injunction, the Razjooyans are barred from continuing their previous management practices while the broader legal proceedings continue. The court’s order serves as a temporary measure to stabilize the properties and ensure tenant safety until a final judgment is reached.

The appointment of professional management is a common legal remedy in cases involving chronic landlord negligence. By installing an independent manager, the court removes the owners’ ability to ignore maintenance requests or bypass building codes.

The Office of the Attorney General has not yet specified which professional management firm will be appointed or the exact timeline for the transition of control. However, the injunction requires the process to begin immediately to mitigate ongoing hazards.