They say the state's redevelopment statute was intended to deal with rundown urban buildings owned by negligent landlords.

The owner of 211 Madison Street, Kai H. Lo, stands out as a landlord so negligent that the city has devoted scarce resources to pursuing him.

But for every client who received help fighting negligent landlords, abusive husbands or federal benefit program administrators, four others did not.

What can you do about a negligent landlord?

The cuts would mean that the department's lawyers would make about 3,300 fewer court visits on behalf of tenants living in buildings owned by negligent landlords, she said.

- collapsing scaffolds, negligent Negligent landlords, drunk drivers - - along with the applicable law.

But Mr. Morfesis has been characterized by city housing officials and housing advocates as being one of the city's most negligent landlords.

And the agency cannot force repairs or impose fines without going to court, giving it less power over negligent landlords than the Parking Violations Bureau has over double-parkers.

Last year, he paid $717 plus utilities to share an old house with broken appliances and a negligent landlord.

It was not a negligent landlord.