SPRINGFIELD — Schweb Partners LLC and multiple related entities are officially banned from managing or owning property in Massachusetts after a recent ruling by a Suffolk County Superior Court judge.
The decision means that Schweb, the New Jersey-based real estate company who owned the “Springfield Gardens” apartments, will have to pay $2.5 million to the commonwealth and forgive $7.5 million of unpaid rent to affected tenants for violating various housing laws.
The $10 million settlement in consumer relief was reached with the attorney general’s office via a proposed consent judgement. Schweb, along with its principles Jacques Schmidt and Abraham Weber, cannot own or operate real estate in Massachusetts anymore.
“Landlords who operate in Massachusetts have a legal obligation to ensure their tenants are living in safe and sanitary housing,” Attorney General Andrea Campbell said. “When those obligations are violated, it doesn’t just break our laws, it unfairly traumatizes our residents who are often led to live in uninhabitable conditions or be uprooted from their homes. I am proud to announce this settlement, which will provide meaningful relief for tenants.”
Campbell first announced this settlement via a press release in early September.
Schweb has been under public scrutiny multiple times throughout the last several years. Between 2020 and 2024, the company — operated by principals Jacques Schmidt and Abraham Weber — purchased and operated 62 “Springfield Gardens” apartment buildings that mostly resided in the Metro Center and Forest Park neighborhoods.
The company quickly became one of Springfield’s largest landlords, renting to nearly 1,300 tenants, but faced heavy backlash multiple times for significant housing violations and other legal issues.
According to the attorney general’s office, Schweb regularly failed to make or improperly delayed adequate repairs in response to tenant reports regarding unsafe and unsanitary conditions — including persistent water leaks, mold, collapsed ceilings, pest infestations, lack of heat and hot water, unsecure exterior doors, fire safety concerns and other issues often persisting for weeks, months or even years.
Campbell’s office said that throughout its ownership tenure, Schweb received at least 26,000 tenant complaints regarding such conditions across its properties, many of which were ignored, inadequately addressed or improperly delayed.
Her team also stated that the landlords failed to keep tenants’ security deposits in separate, interest-bearing accounts, as legally required, and “unlawfully misappropriated tenant security deposits into its own accounts to cover its operating expenses.”
“Furthermore, the AGO alleged that Schweb often failed to return security deposits within 30 days of tenants moving out, made improper deductions from security deposits and failed to provide an itemized list of damages for any deductions it made,” the announcement read.
In a statement to Reminder Publishing, Mayor Domenic Sarno commended Campbell and her office for securing this result for Springfield residents.
“I commend her for continuing to hold the former owners of the former Springfield Gardens properties accountable for their dereliction of duties,” Sarno said. “I am thrilled to be rid of this ‘slum lord,’ and once again thank AG Campbell and team for not only supporting our local efforts, but also for their continued advocacy on behalf of our residents.”
