Sassouni Management

Sassouni Management is despicable, and I feel bad if you end up getting an apartment managed by them like me and my roommates have. They are so inattentive at our building, 1646 Madison, that we’ve been dealing with a black mold leak in our bathroom ceiling for so long that it finally caved and fell through today. There is a literal hole in our bathroom ceiling to the upper rafters.

One of the most despicable management companies I have ever worked with. Incredibly rude and unhelpful staff. They deducted from my security deposit, after the super guaranteed my full security refund back. When I emailed to ask about it, they had an very unprofessional woman call me back, accuse me of being hostile, tell me that the charge was «not our problem,» and then hang up on me.
Additionally, the apartment I rented leaked water from the walls and ceiling because it was a single layer of brick. Winter was terribly cold due to this. The water damaged several pieces of my furniture, and when I contacted the company about it, the response was «you should have gotten renters’ insurance.»

I lived in a Sassouni-​managed building in the East Village. Don’t pay attention to positive reviews. If your standard for management companies in this city is «they didn’t make my life totally miserable» then you’ve got the tenant version of battered wife syndrome.
The fact is, any company that puts so little effort into treating their customers is just as bad as one that is mendacious, negligent, or law-​breaking. While my super (or rather, the super’s assistant who did all the work) was terrific, every other person was lazy, uncaring and/​or incompetent. To wit: upon moving out, the super spent about 90 seconds looking around the apartment to inspect for damage, cleanliness, etc. He said it was fine. Then, when I finally (over two months later) received my security deposit back, it was $ 200 less than the total amount. The office told me there was damage. I asked what specifically. They couldnt answer me. But they also refused to issue me the correct amount for my deposit. They know it’s not worth suing someone for $ 200, so it’s a nice last fuck-​you they can give to their former tenants.
I know that sometimes you’re stuck and have to hold your nose and work with certain companies. I would encourage you to expend every effort to avoid having to live in a building managed by Sassouni.

I lived in the building at 20^th and First Avenue for two years and any dealing with Sassouni Management was a horror. I moved into the apartment a few months into the lease (my buddy from school switched jobs and I took his spot), and was appointed as the person who had to deal with «Ambi». The other roommates had each decided dealing with Ambi was such a miserable experience that the new guy could have the task.
EVERY, SINGLE call to Ambi resulted in her yelling at me for the most ridiculous things. I never could figure out why a leaky roof was the reason to scream at the person paying the rent. At the end of the day, the apartment was well located but everything controlled by the management company was done poorly. We had mice, leaks, broken elevators (one guy got trapped) and a robbery (the door could be opened with a credit card). They also totally screwed us out of the security deposit and the sad truth is that it was better to be out the cash than to go through another round with Sassouni management.
I will NEVER again rent from Sassouni management. As others have said, there are some very entertaining reviews on other sites for Sassouni that go back for years!

I have to disagree with the other reviewer of Sassouni. Though I cannot confirm or deny his/​her report, my dealings with Sassouni have always been cordial and direct. The rent in on my apartment in Washington Heights is cheap, the super is attentive, and whenever there has been a problem it has been solved within 24 hours. The building itself is old but decently maintained, and the only major problem we’ve faced (aside from uncommon water heater malfunctions) is the noise from apartment reconstruction that sometimes flairs up at odd hours.
Since they’ve moved offices to Great Neck, I can no longer drop off the rent check every month (thus assuring myself of paying on time), but this is only bothersome. Otherwise, the only problem with dealing with Sassouni is partially with me, in that I have a hearing problem, making it difficult to discern the accents of their staff.

I lived in the building at 502 E 89^th St for two years. Sassouni Management is the most unpleasant, untrustworthy and lazy operation I have ever encountered.
Every interaction with Ambi, the woman who works there, immediately turns into a fight — even if all you’re asking for is to have your lease renewal in writing. Of course, you have no other choice but to deal with her. So she lies to your face (refusing certain rights and obligations clearly spelled out in NYC housing law), hangs up on you and if you actually go to their offices she will walk out the door when you’re in mid-​sentence. She responds to requests only when you threaten legal action.
This attitude translates into the management of the building, of course. The super is lazy and unreliable. He doesn’t keep appointments and flat-​out refuses simple jobs. The renovations are shabby and the common areas are filthy; when the concrete entryway got dirty he put down a carpet instead of sweeping, and when that carpet got dirty he just flipped it over. He painted the basement/​laundry room and just stopped about a foot above the floor. He leaves old appliances — stoves, A/​C units, cabinets — sitting in the narrow hallway for weeks at a time, creating a very real fire hazard.
Of course, when I gave notice that I was leaving they acted quickly — giving my personal phone number to every CitiHabitat broker in the city, without my permission. I was taking 15 – 20 phone calls a day! Argh.
Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up. Stay far, far away!