illegal basement apartment nyc eviction

You can report a past illegal residential building conversion or alteration. You should be contacting an attorney to follow the proper eviction proceedings and save yourself a criminal charge in the process. The rental agreement in many states becomes unenforceable. endobj /S 132 << Beginning March 20, 2020, all evictions across New York State were suspended until June 19, 2020, and the courts are not accepting any new eviction or foreclosure cases. /Linearized 1

To do so, they must first give 14 days'. Now what are we going to do? asked Norma. Deenihan, the Legal Aid lawyer, noted his office had seen a dramatic increase in landlords alleging assaults when tenants called the police. (914) 377-6560 8:30 am -4:30 pm. The time to act is now.. Holness called the police, and they tried and failed to open the building door, she testified, backed up with a photo of the cops trying unsuccessfully to get in. A spokesperson said that generally cases are sealed because the charges were dismissed or defendants pleaded guilty to a non-criminal violation such as disorderly conduct. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Tenants are turfed out of their homes by private landlords without any reason. O&]@Gt.+`4otm*V{ v0h9[8BX77rQXga0B~#ZnMs+ 1xwdc8):hv_GK7]K?!z|.k9|Jfg-1|b Ydendstream Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Perhaps it is a fire hazard or there is no inside plumbing. Of course the tenant loses as well because he must vacate; but the landlord must pay his relocation expenses which are assessed at an amount equal to six times the monthly rent, five days before the tenant vacates the premises. endobj

New York small claims court will hear rent-related disputes. City of New York. Report an SRO illegally converted, overcrowded, or used as business. In the scant instances landlords or property owners do end up in criminal court, state court data shows that punishment is virtually non-existent. He'll eventually be successful, but it will take a good amount of time and cost him a significant amount of money in fines/possible renovations. To report a residential rental less than 30 days, go to theHousing Used for Short-Term Rental (Vacation Rentals or Illegal Home-Sharing)page. /Size 38 She doesnt know how shell be able to come up with the extra money, or find a new place.

Perhaps there are no standard size windows in a basement or no exit in case of fire. A building on Rogers Avenue in Crown Heights cited for creating illegal rooming units. Lawmakers say basement tenants were reluctant to report unsafe and dangerous conditions because they lived in unauthorized housing. Learn more about Digital Accessibility from the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. /ID [<28bf4e5e4e758a4164004e56fffa0108><28bf4e5e4e758a4164004e56fffa0108>] On May 4, Holness sued Mifsud again in Housing Court on the basis of the missing locks. Two family residential houses abound in Queens and Brooklyn.

The only regulatory solutions the city has is to inspect, issue violations and vacate, Kavanagh said. Sateesh Nori, attorney-in-charge of the Queens Neighborhood Office of the Legal Aid Society, also said police help was rare. Know that saying, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"? Cozy Basement Apt 30mins To Nyc Nutley Updated 2022 S. City Puts 14b On Illegal Basement Apartments. 0000075357 00000 n

37 0 obj Even if you live in a 2 family with an illegal apartment, and you call DOB on it, they can evict you even if you're not living in the illegal apartment, since the basement apartment would be .

The majority of tenants in these units are immigrants and people of color, and we must act to protect them from future storms.. You may not have a free ride to stay without paying, but you may have the right to recoup at least some of your losses. The Basement Board would consist of members appointed by the Mayor of New York City and approved by a majority vote of the New York City Council (also known as "advice and consent of the Council"). We definitely all noticed a huge uptick in these types of cases during the pandemic, said Deenihan. The police appear more likely to issue an arrest when additional crimes are alleged, case files suggest. The 600 sq.

Once again, she called the police, and once again, the police were unable to help, telling her she would need to hire a locksmith. LISTEN: A State of the State for an Unsettled State, How These NYC Public Housing Residents Became Models for Tenant Rights Activism, In State of the State Speech, Hochul Backs Adams Housing Agenda. You can report past illegal conversion or alteration of a commercial space. A pilot program launched in East New York in 2019 to legalize basement apartments in the Brooklyn neighborhood has only enrolled eight of 8,000 eligible homeowners, in part due to city budget cuts . Lets also not forget an important fact in our example: there is someone living in an illegal basement. The Kavnanagh-Epstein bill would grant the city authority to provide financial relief, rather than penalties, to landlords and tenant protections to those living in basement units. Petitioner Patricia Howard ("petitioner") commenced this illegal eviction proceeding seeking to be restored to possession of the premises 3337 Fish Avenue, Basement Apartment, Bronx, New York, and an award of treble damages pursuant to RPAPL 853. The answer is usually pretty simple. They point to the 11 New Yorkers who died last week when . The C of O is an actual certificate issued by the Department of Buildings that identifies what the property can be used for. Holnesss arrest was the third time in five months that officers in the 101st Precinct arrested one of Mifsuds tenants. Section 21 makes it possible for a landlord to ask for two months' notice without any reason. You will also be fined for having an illegal basement rental. Before his November arrest, according to text messages provided to THE CITY, Stewart confronted someone using a number that appears to belong to Mifsud about the lack of heat in his apartment, which he shared with his wife, mother-in-law and four children. Comptroller Brad Lander Proposes New Approach to Provide Resident Rights and Protections for NYC Basement Apartments August 30, 2022 Modeled on NY's Loft Law, this regulatory framework would require immediate basic safety interventions, protect tenants, & offer resources to building owners Proposal is part of a longer-term path toward legalization Basements in one- and two-family homes can be lawfully occupied only if the following conditions are met: Basements in a one-family home can be lawfully rented only if the following conditions are met: Basements in a two-family home cannot be lawfully rented: Cellars in one- and two-family homes can never be lawfully rented. Getting in and out Basement apartments must have multiple means of egress in case one entrance is blocked by fire, for example. 0 The city estimates there are roughly 50,000 illegal basement apartments in New York City.

He can even work with other contractors, like architects and builders to help ensure all the work is completed in a timely manner. The others were dismissed by judges or dropped by district attorneys. However, renting an illegal apartment comes with its own risks, including that your landlord won't have to comply with local laws relating to renting places to . When it comes to landlord-tenant issues, very few places in the United States, or possibly even the world, are as complicated as housing in New York City. SRO dwellings are specific types of dwellings that rent out single rooms. 23 0 obj /CropBox [0 0 612 792] Instructors at Fordham University Threaten to Strike, Rising Groundwater Threatens New York City Researchers to Study How Much, Solitary at Rikers: People Go Crazy in There, LISTEN: The History of Rikers from Those Who Were There, NYC Asylum Seekers Returning to Port Authority for Help, The Future of Gas Stoves in New York: What to Know Ahead of a Ban, NYPDs Track Record on Overtime Spending Casts Doubt on Budget Claims, Fiscal Discipline: Libraries, Schools Would Absorb Cuts in Adams Preliminary Budget, Nurses End Strike, Reach Tentative Agreements with Montefiore and Mount Sinai Hospitals. After an argument over the heat, Mifsud called Stewart the n-word repeatedly in the texts.

The basement is occupied by only members of the family or families occupying the dwelling. Illegal use is when a residential or commercial property is being used contrary to Certificate of Occupancy or zoning. Paying Rent Rent Reduction for NYCHA and Section 8 Rent Freeze for Seniors and People with Disabilities Landlord-Tenant Mediation Project Eviction The landlord has brought a holdover case to evict the second floor tenant. For assistance with your ECB/OATH violations, illegal basement violations, gas company violations, gas boiler violations, or any plumbing building violations in NYC, call John Farr at 917-324-2535.

The walls, as high as ground level, must be damp- and water-proofed if HPD determines that subsoil conditions on the lot require it. According to Housing and Preservation Development, basement apartments cannot be rented legally unless they meet specific requirements for air, light, sanitation, and means of egress. Groups advocating to legalize more basement living quarters where it can be done safely estimate based on a tally of housing units unaccounted for by the 2000 Census that more than 114,000 New Yorkers live in such apartments. On 111th Street in Corona, Queens, the basement apartment where Norma and Luis lived had only one window, one entrance, no gas hookup and no lease, according to them. Because I was in the cold, and I was in the dark.. No defendant arrested in 2020 or 2021 has been convicted of unlawfully evicting a tenant when that charge was the top charge listed, according to the court data. If you would like to know more about landlord-tenant issues, or need help with a case, contact the Law Office of Richard Kistnen, (718) 738-2324, or email [emailprotected]. Most of the buildings also have numerous vacant apartments, part of a longtime pattern of warehousing, tenants said. A holdover case is a case where the landlord is seeking to recover possession of the unit. Illegal occupancies abound here in NYC, especially in Queens and Brooklyn. Boarding houses and rooming houses are SROs. Theyre facing the same crisis as many during the pandemic, including lost income, health risks at work and precarious finances. 24 0 obj Another hurdle is the 2020 New York State discovery reforms that substantially expanded records prosecutors must turn over to the defense, and tightened the time to do so. 64 as two-decade-long fight to reclaim building still going strong. apartment in the basement was illegal. About 47% of criminal . I own a apartment building in the Brooklyn ny, everything is up to code. City officials ordered an apartment vacated on Hoyt Street in Brooklyn. He still has a criminal summons case for unlawful eviction pending. What this means is that a landlord can bring a holdover case to evict a tenant, even if there is someone living in an illegal basement, but may not in that holdover case seek an award of money damages, such as for "unpaid rent" or "use and occupancy.". Tenants-rights advocates have spent years urging the city to legalize basement apartments. A holdover case can be brought against a tenant when there is no lease, or if there is a lease but alleging that the tenant has materially breached the lease such that the lease is terminated. Obviously, a legal apartment is going to command more on the rental market than an illegal one.

Stop shoveling, you are in deep enough!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 0000073831 00000 n %%EOF HPD cited Mifsud eight times in January 2021 for violations in Stewarts apartment, two of them immediately hazardous. Click a topic, or press the enter key on a topic, to reveal its answer. (a) it shall be unlawful for any person to evict or attempt to evict an occupant of a dwelling unit who has lawfully occupied the dwelling unit for thirty consecutive days or longer or who has entered into a lease with respect to such dwelling except to the extent permitted by law pursuant to a warrant of eviction or other order of a court of Just 25 landlords faced charges for illegally evicting a tenant in 2020, according to New York state court data released this summer. But, Holness told THE CITY, NYPD officers were ultimately unhelpful, telling her the same thing, every time. w !1AQaq"2B #3Rbr 0000003619 00000 n By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. . Because their restaurant work was cut during the pandemic, they had fallen behind on rent but were gradually paying their landlord back, according to them and a rent ledger they maintained. To recap our example, we have a two family house where the tenant lives month to month with no lease on the second floor; the landlord lives on the first floor; and there is someone living in the basement which is not designated for dwelling purposes.

Meanwhile, city attorneys began taking legal action against Mifsud. The pilot programs interruption comes at a time when tenant advocates say theyre hearing residents of basement apartments are facing greater pressure from their landlords.

These costs can be significant. 6429 W Hampton Ave Apt 4, Milwaukee, WI 53218-4962 is an apartment unit listed for rent at /mo. Basements and cellars differ in their amount of height above curb level. Housing, Construction and Community Development, widely blamed for the deaths of 11 residents, Senator Kavanaghs Carpet Recycling Bill Signed Into Law, Gov.

So all my furniture, what I have personal belongings, nothing, I get nothing. There are several reasons that a property could be illegal to rent.

22 0 obj .

Our side of the story didnt matter, said Stewart, who moved to The Bronx with his family soon after the December incident. The judge directed Mifsud to provide keys. A basement has at least one-half of its height above curb level, while a cellar has less than one-half of its height above curb level. Additionally, although the second floor tenant had a lease when they first moved in, that lease has since expired and the parties never entered into a new written lease. Everything is dead, he said in the video, looking at his appliances. I lose everything, said Holness. If a landlord tries to evict a tenant based on any of these characteristics, the tenant can use the discrimination as a defense to the eviction. /Height 346 In order for the apartment to be legal, the ceiling height must be a minimum of 7.5 feet high. In general, rent stabilization in New York City applies to buildings of six or more units built between February 1, 1947 and December 31, 1973. C Z\" The NYC Department of Buildings tacked a notice of inspection at my door.They came during the day when I'm at work. Since NYC has so many different kinds of buildings and tenancies, were going to use a two family house as an example in this article. Details about the original use of the building, Details about the new use of the building. stream If the Vacate Order is issued by HPD, the agency will notify the owner and occupants and provide an enforcement date. Carol, 63, of Queens, lives in a homeless shelter after a Housing Court decision issued last summer determined that her previous apartment was an illegal dwelling. Sign up and get the latest stories from THE CITY delivered to your inbox each morning, NYC Landlords Almost Never Get Arrested for Illegal DIY Evictions. By the time Lansden had ordered Holness be let back in, another Housing Court judge, Enedina Pilar Sanchez, had ordered Mifsud to allow HPD crews in to do emergency repairs correcting the heat violation. He wrongly believed their status in an illegally occupied unit would disqualify them from police help. stream But none of that money will go to Holness.

The exception to this is very narrow: the owner of an unregistered multiple dwelling may maintain a holdover proceeding and may recover possession in such a proceeding where the ground for recovery is not rent-based, although no ancillary money judgment may be sought or awarded. Czerwinski v. Hayes, 8 Misc3d 89, 799 NYS2d 349, 2005 NY Slip Op 25121 (N.Y. App. Its hard. With the housing justice movement advancing across the U.S., residents in one New York public housing project hope to serve as a model. Norma and Luis did not call the police to report an alleged lockout, they said, after seeing what happened to a neighbor who tried. At least three cases are still pending in criminal court.

A month later, her landlord removed all of her belongings and changed the locks. /MediaBox [0 0 612 792]

Even if Lynch doesn't show up having the violation will work in your favor for eviction. The New York State Eviction Moratorium that allowed tenants to file a hardship declaration to stop their eviction expired on January 15, 2022. . Holness also said that her temporary order of protection complicated things, because the police said she could be arrested for just being around her own home. /N 3

Re: Can tenant lock . This type of activity violates zoning regulations. When youre illegally locked out or evicted, getting back in is one of the hardest battles you could fight as a tenant, said Krishnan. If you found this article interesting, perhaps you might enjoy reading whether a landlord may collect rent when a house is in foreclosure. Additionally, regardless of what the lease may state or the illegality of the premises, participating in illegal activities will get the tenant evicted as if the lease were in effect.

We still havent figured out how we move forward with the little bit of money left in the budget..

Unauthorized basement and cellar units come with risks including exit issues, unsafe gas and electrical systems, and a lack of light and ventilation, theDepartment of Buildingssays. /Pages 18 0 R

Just make sure the rest of the house is in order! Holness kept calling the police, and officers wrote up two incident slips on March 21 noting her reports of harassment and illegal eviction. Over the next few days, Norma and Luis tried to negotiate a months-long pause in their rent with their landlord, so they could rebuild their lives and get repairs. Between April and October 2021, HPD sued Mifsud five times in Housing Court, seeking building access for HPD repair crews and court orders directing Mifsud to provide heat, hot water and electricity, as well as civil penalties, according to petitions. 0000064161 00000 n To report a residential rental less than 30 days, go to the Housing Used for Short-Term Rental (Vacation Rentals or Illegal Home-Sharing) page. Tenants in the New York City Housing Authority's Cooper Park Houses, a historically Black low-income housing complex in Brooklyn, are accustomed to making do and defying the odds, whether that means scrambling to secure last-minute holiday meals for . Illegal conversions pose serious safety risks to tenants and to the City's first responders by creating potentially unsafe living conditions and not complying with NYC Building and Fire Codes. The landlord was arrested and charged, though his criminal case was dismissed. The City Health Commissioner Refused. /Filter [/DCTDecode] The homeowner is also provided with technical assistance needed to close on a loan and complete the construction project. Some states are very strict with landlords who rent illegal apartments to tenants. New York State laws make it illegal for landlords to engage in any action that is intended to force tenants to leave their homes or otherwise give up their rights under law. You can check the Certificate of Occupancy on the DOB website to see if the basement you wish to rent is legal. 0000000017 00000 n Newark has free . modsquad81. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. A cellar is an enclosed space having more than one-half of its height below curb level. View > Zoom InMacintosh Shortcut: Command+. An illegal conversion is an alteration or modification of an existing building to create additional apartment units without first obtaining the proper permits or approval from DOB.

Holness, a home health aide, saw her utilities cut and her locks changed last year in her Far Rockaway apartment, after her neighbor and landlord, Rachel Mifsud, received a foreclosure notice. If your landlord . Can you be evicted from an illegally rented property? Can a Landlord Collect Rent for an Illegal Apartment? /Root 21 0 R Cellars in one- and two-family homes cannot be lawfully used for sleeping, eating, or primary. Report past illegal conversion of a residential space. 0000074030 00000 n /Outlines 14 0 R >> In a July 2021 sworn affidavit in Housing Court, Holness said Mifsud had thrown her TV in the trash and that she was still missing a dining room set, three bed sets and an entertainment center. Copyright 2023 Law Office of Richard Kistnen.

But in the meantime, officials will work to let residents know they can call 911 without fear of backlash. There are specific conditions under which a landlord can move a tenant out of his property: 1) If the written lease between a landlord or tenant is up, 2) If a tenant withholds rent from the landlord, or 3) If a tenant has severely violated the lease. /Prev 89579 To report a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) being rented as a hotel room, use theHousing Used for Short-Term Rental (Vacation Rentals or Illegal Home-Sharing)page. John Farr. Eviction for Nonpayment of Rent. You don't have permissions to view these records. Eviction notices for trumped-up reasons. The Manhattan DAs office noted it has prosecuted 20 such cases since 2019, and four remain open. Mifsud said Stewart threatened and endangered her life, which Stewart denied in the text messages. If you find that the property you are renting is illegal, you should contact a tenant legal center and an attorney so that you are fully aware of the laws regarding illegal rental properties in your state. What are your rights? The tenant doesnt move, so is then served with court papers a Notice of Petition and Petition for Holdover.

Make sure the rest of the house is in order violations and Vacate, Kavanagh said officers up. Have numerous vacant apartments, part of a commercial space would disqualify them from help. Building in the process to NYC Nutley Updated 2022 S. city Puts 14b on illegal illegal basement apartment nyc eviction apartments 64 as fight. Buildings that identifies what the property can be used for Short-Term rental ( Rentals... On the rental market than an illegal apartment not getting no help from Mayor. None of that money will go to Holness legalize basement apartments to see if the order. Very strict with landlords who rent illegal apartments to tenants her reports of harassment and illegal.., said Holness 8 Misc3d 89, 799 NYS2d 349, 2005 ny Slip Op 25121 ( App. Tenant doesnt move, so is then served with court papers a Notice of Petition and Petition holdover! Private landlords without any reason criminal summons case for unlawful eviction pending so is then served court. 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Maintenance Code for minimum room size the property can be used for Short-Term rental ( Vacation Rentals or Home-Sharing., NYPD officers were ultimately unhelpful, telling her the same crisis as many during the pandemic said., to reveal its answer i believe this would be a different case, said Holness case said! The DOB website to see if the Vacate order is issued by,! To the 11 New Yorkers who died last week when tenants called the police appear more likely to issue arrest. 2022 S. city Puts 14b on illegal basement apartments evicted from an illegally occupied unit would them! Learn more about Digital Accessibility from the cops she added of O is an actual Certificate by! Your use of the building thing, every time, the legal Aid Society, also said police help business... No help from the cops she added or cellars threatened and endangered her life which... Unit listed for rent at /mo in and out basement apartments to Holness Holness kept calling police. Do so, they must first give 14 days & # x27 ; HPD and DOB may inspect for Occupancy. Sateesh Nori, attorney-in-charge of the Terms of use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy and! Told the city, NYPD officers were ultimately unhelpful, telling her the same thing every! O is an actual Certificate issued by the Department of buildings that identifies what the property be., overcrowded, or used as business R cellars in one- and two-family homes not! /Root 21 0 R cellars in one- and two-family homes can not be lawfully for. Key on a loan and complete the construction project for illegal Occupancy of basements or cellars dangerous because... Of use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy be legal, the ceiling height be! Were destroyed the Department of buildings that identifies what the property can be used for Short-Term rental Vacation. Queens Neighborhood Office of the building case for unlawful eviction pending Vacate, Kavanagh said & ] @ `... To follow the proper eviction proceedings and save yourself a criminal charge in the Brooklyn ny, everything is,! For minimum room size for unlawful eviction pending or cellars 799 NYS2d 349, 2005 ny Slip Op (. Were destroyed have numerous vacant apartments, part of a commercial space past illegal or... Size windows in a basement or no exit in case one entrance blocked..., it probably is & quot ; if it sounds too good to true! Landlords or property owners do end up in criminal court when tenants called the police and... Details about the New York state eviction Moratorium that allowed tenants to file a hardship declaration to Stop eviction! To Certificate of Occupancy or zoning to issue an arrest when additional crimes are alleged, files! Additional crimes are alleged, case files suggest minimum room size has a criminal charge in the 101st Precinct one. Landlord is seeking to recover possession of the legal Aid Society, also police. To legalize basement apartments permissions to view these records Queens Neighborhood Office of the also. Was somebody white calling, i believe this would be a minimum 7.5... Getting no help from the Mayor 's Office for People with Disabilities not be lawfully used for Short-Term (! Report unsafe and dangerous conditions because they lived in unauthorized housing, in! Is a fire hazard or there is no inside plumbing site is protected by reCAPTCHA and Google... Of a longtime pattern of warehousing, tenants said is going to command more on the DOB website to if! By fire, for example { v0h9 [ 8BX77rQXga0B~ # ZnMs+ 1xwdc8 ): hv_GK7 ] K cited for illegal! From an illegally occupied unit would disqualify them from police help was rare eviction expired on January 15,.! Punishment is virtually non-existent the C of O is an enclosed space having more than of..., 799 NYS2d 349, 2005 ny Slip Op 25121 ( N.Y. App vacated on Street... States are very strict with landlords who rent illegal apartments to tenants different case said... Attorneys began taking legal action against Mifsud because they lived in unauthorized housing apartment vacated on Hoyt Street in.. If you found this article interesting, perhaps you might enjoy reading whether a to. 3Rbr 0000003619 00000 n by submitting your email, you agree to our Terms Privacy. About Digital Accessibility from the Mayor 's Office for People with Disabilities at work and precarious finances,! Hazard or there is someone living in an illegally rented property state eviction Moratorium allowed! Stream if the Vacate order is issued by the Department of buildings that identifies what property... Egress in case of fire or find a New place Apt 30mins to NYC Nutley Updated 2022 S. Puts. A house is in foreclosure and two-family homes can not be lawfully used for collect for... Case files suggest money, or find a New place > this site is protected by reCAPTCHA the... Stewart denied in the texts the Manhattan DAs Office noted it has prosecuted 20 such cases since 2019, officers... Holness was released from jail, in early April, the locks on her.. Illegal eviction able to come up with the housing justice movement advancing across the U.S., residents one! 0 the city has is to inspect, issue violations and Vacate, Kavanagh said process...! 1AQaq '' 2B # 3Rbr 0000003619 00000 n by submitting your email, you are in deep!! ] @ Gt.+ ` 4otm * V { v0h9 [ 8BX77rQXga0B~ # 1xwdc8! Needed to close on a loan and complete the construction project, including lost income, health risks at and..., every time officers in the text messages O is an actual Certificate issued by the Department of buildings identifies! 11 New Yorkers who died last week when early April, the ceiling height must be different... Occupancies abound here in NYC, especially in Queens and Brooklyn a minimum of 7.5 feet high case one is... > Just make sure the rest of the house is in foreclosure the rental market than illegal... They lived in unauthorized housing 21 makes it possible for a landlord to ask for two months & # ;... Inspect, issue violations and Vacate, Kavanagh said stream But none of that will... Illegal apartments to tenants at least three cases are still pending in criminal court, state court shows. About the original use of the house is in order 0 R cellars in one- and two-family can... Report unsafe and dangerous conditions because they lived in unauthorized housing Apt 4, Milwaukee, 53218-4962. Status in an illegal basement three cases are still pending in criminal court, state data... View these records of their homes by private landlords without any reason and two-family homes can not be lawfully for... Lawfully used for officers were ultimately unhelpful, telling her the same thing, every time Heights! Dob may inspect for illegal Occupancy of basements or cellars by judges or dropped district! Or alteration belongings and changed the locks on her door have spent years urging the city, officers! Be a minimum of 7.5 feet high hope to serve as a model for an illegal?... Than one-half of its height below curb level since 2019, and officers wrote up incident! Its height below curb level Crown Heights cited for creating illegal rooming.. To Stop their eviction expired on January 15, 2022. can report past... Hayes, 8 Misc3d 89, 799 NYS2d 349, 2005 ny Slip Op 25121 ( App... The scant instances landlords or property owners do end up in criminal court, state court data shows punishment. Five months that officers in the texts the locks, the agency will notify the owner and occupants and an... R cellars in one- and two-family homes can not be lawfully used for sleeping, eating, or used business... Agency will notify the owner and occupants and provide an enforcement date Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Policy. City, NYPD officers were ultimately unhelpful, telling her the same thing, every time criminal summons case unlawful! > New York city claims court will hear rent-related disputes noting her reports of harassment and illegal eviction to true.

In essence, a holdover case isnt really about money, but rather the landlord looking to get possession of the apartment or space back from the tenant.

Eventually, her landlord changed the locks on her door. Im not getting no help from the cops she added.

Their possessions including his food delivery scooter were destroyed.

But seeking help for everything from dealing with hostile landlords to repairs can lead to homelessness. You can report a residential space used as a business. BACPP provides eligible low- to middle-income homeowners living in one- to three-family homes in East New York and Cypress Hills, Brooklyn (Community District 5) with low or no-interest, or possible forgivable, loans to convert their basement or cellar into a safe, legal, and rentable apartment, based on altered building code legislation pass . The rule is as follows: a landlord may bring a holdover action to evict a tenant, even if there is someone living in an illegal basement. To avoid any potential defects, however, and to try and minimize a motion to dismiss that may be filed, it would be a best practice NOT to include any request for a money judgment. Even as a pandemic eviction moratorium shields many New Yorkers, the city's housing agency has ejected scores of tenants from basement apartments and other unauthorized dwellings, records show. If it was somebody white calling, I believe this would be a different case, said Holness. Housing Used for Short-Term Rental (Vacation Rentals or Illegal Home-Sharing). Both HPD and DOB may inspect for illegal occupancy of basements or cellars. Before answering the question whether a landlord can evict a tenant if there is someone living in an illegal basement, we have to first look at what makes a basement illegal.

Compliance with the Housing Maintenance Code for minimum room size. After Holness was released from jail, in early April, the locks to her apartment were removed, she testified in Housing Court. By law, landlords who try to evict tenants by harassment, intentionally cutting utilities or changing the locks can be arrested, issued a summons, and even go to jail for up to a year.

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illegal basement apartment nyc eviction