A Queens apartment broker stripped of his real estate license more than a decade ago allegedly continued collecting deposits from desperate renters for years, exposing gaps in the city’s consumer protection and housing enforcement systems. At least a dozen renters say David Michael took deposits ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars for apartments they never ultimately rented, then refused to return the money when deals fell apart, according to Gothamist. Court records reviewed by the outlet show at least 24 small claims lawsuits have been filed against Michael in Brooklyn and Queens since 2012. The allegations […]

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