MT. SINAI, NY – The newly formed Brookhaven Quality of Life Task Force has condemned a rental house in Mt. Sinai where the tenants were forced to live with no electricity or hot water next to an abandoned, mosquito-filled pool.

“This action in Mt. Sinai by the Quality of Life Task Force sends a clear message to slumlords that we will be enforcing our Town Code throughout all of Brookhaven from the south shore to the north,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko. “There are no safe havens in Brookhaven for quality of life offenders. This home is not only a blight on this community, but it is a hazard to the health and safety of area residents. This is a new day in Brookhaven. If you are an egregious code violator, the Task Force will be visiting you.”

According to Town investigators, the main house at 8 Remsen Court is vacant, but four adults were living in a pool house to the rear of the main structure. The pool house area has a sink and refrigerator, but no stove, and is blocked off from the main portion of the building. There was no electricity or hot water available for the tenants in the pool house area, and the in-ground swimming pool in the rear yard was unsecured, and filled with mosquito-infested green-colored water.

“This is despicable. To have people living in these conditions is horrible, and we’re simply not going to allow it. If you’re a landlord in Brookhaven, take notice: we’re coming after you if you violate the law, or force your tenants to live in such a deplorable condition,” said Councilwoman Jane Bonner. “As a landlord in Brookhaven – you have an obligation to your tenants, and the neighbors of your property. If you don’t, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law, to protect the quality of life and property values of our communities.”

In addition to condemning the building as unfit for human occupancy, Town inspectors wrote a number of violations against the property owner for failure to have a valid permit for a pool and deck; having an unsecured pool; unregistered vehicles on the property; and failure to maintain the property. The home already has two outstanding violations for an illegal accessory apartment and failure to have a valid rental permit, according to the Town building department.

According to people residing in the pool house, the tenants had paid rent to a man named Guy Rutt, who had been living in the main portion of the house, but has since moved out. The owners of the property, Christopher and Lauren Ginas of Port Jefferson, are currently parties to a landlord-tenant case involving Mr. Rutt.

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