The Landlord served me an Eviction notice.

[David4665]

I was ordered to  landlord tenant court, The landlord found out that I was running an Airbnb and subpoenaed  Airbnb to bring all proof of my earning over the course of six years, I am now trying to get in  touch with airbnb to hear how they will handle this matter.  "Commercial Profiteering" is the case, Rent stabilized tenants can not charge roommates more then half the rent but as a host one has additional expenses which might help my case as I did not make more then my rent.

Any ideas?

[David4665]

Hello Susan ,

Thank you for your feed back, I think my landlord is as much a victim as he wants victimize, Greed is a deadly sin, I think it has got the better of him, an illness that he can't control nor even understand the depth of it. They knew I was running an airbnb but did not care, it is all about my rent strike, the tenants above me are insane and their child suffer more than any of us. 

Last Friday there was a party being held in the courtyard I designed over ten years see NYTimes article, the landlord showed up with his lawyer and NYPD, at first the police said it was a landlord/tenant court issue but soon sided with the lawyer and in the end I was pretty sure they were going to arrest me. 

Airbnb hurt no one, my guests were mostly content with the serve they received , the neighbors never said anything negative and some even made friends but mostly I was merely surviving. The Landlord is using anything against me he possibly can to evict me, arrest me, demoralize me. The money I made was minimal but necessary as I was battling cancer alternative health is not coved by insurance, I watched my grandmother, mother and brother all die of cancer treated with traditional medicine I was not having it but alternative health remedies are costly and time consuming.

I think the judge will see the reasoning and no harm done that I stopped nine months before they started  the case against me but also the super claimed I was doing it for ten years and he told the office managerwhich is false only six years but there was no landlord action ,notice to stop until this year.

Thanks for your support, what does "profiteering "mean? if I only broke even and then take away expenses so rent $18,600.00  expense $5000.00 Airbnb 19,000,00 + Profiteering or surviving no other income , con ed , internet,  very good service or  is this just about wanting a rent stabilized unit back and return the drug dealer  who occasionally scars  others out of the buildings, noise , fighting, garage  etc who wants to stay here for a couple of months and see how much they like it?

Any takers ? No?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/18/nyregion/the-garden-thief.html

[Mark116]

New York City is very hostile to airbnb, and the city has fined numerous landlords thousands of dollars when their tenants were running airbnbs, even without their knowledge. 

So, while it might feel good to pile on the landlord, I'm not sure how much sympathy someone deserves for running an airbnb that is against the terms of their lease, while simultaneously refusing to pay their own rent, and then being evicted as a result.

[David4665]

Mark read my last note to Susan you are standing a little out of range come to Hell's Kitchen and we can have that conversation this is a 15 year battle not just about the present rent strike or airbnb.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/18/nyregion/the-garden-thief.html

[Yadira22]

@David4665 
i really am so sorry that you are going through this and though I see it from the side of the landlord I can absolutely appreciate your side. Growing up we rented and every month prices went up to a point that it was cheaper to buy the flat we live in than continue renting. Obviously this is not a feasible solution for everyone, as we were very blessed and thought very hard for it. It’s been 14 years and we having only just started stabilising ourselves financially again. 

Regardless of what people say here the truth is that you most probably would need local legal help- I am not American nor have I lived there but we have free legal assistance here in the UK and I am guessing you should be able to get access to such pro bono legal services in NYC. I would particularly look at charities and other none profits who seek to help stabilise the local rental market. Based on what you are saying alone- this is prime example of what is happening and could happen as a result and resonantes with many other’s stories. 

 I really do wish you all the best and keep on going! 

And  if you ever do Airbnb, please get your landlord’s written permission prior! 😉

[David4665]

Yadira mi hermana,

Thank you for your support, I am only now understanding the depth of the problems here and who is at the "heartless" of the matter, the landlord, profiteering is the spot on term for what he is doing and allowing to be done via my neighbor aka weed dealer/friends/family/clients and associates. Once complaints were known the landlord had the legal and moral obligation to take steps to curb this tenants actions namely disturbing the peace of the rest of us but the neighbors who said nothing and did nothing have a responsibility . People who had serious issues might have complained but got no resolve so they just moved out and then BAM%22 increase to the next incoming tenant now what's the problem ?

I am trying to get legal assistance but it is not so ease as one would hope, I will let all concerned know the outcome either way , this is a very challenging time for me, I really wished I had understood then what I understand now, This place isn't called Hell's Kitchen for nothing.

Be well

David 

[Pete69]

So they filed an Unlawful Detainer action? What's the worst that can happen? You get evicted. They get their place back. Is there any language in your lease that says they get to collect X dollars if you are found guilty of illegally subletting or breaching the terms of the lease? I doubt it. I don't know your situation but sometimes the best course of action is to just do nothing and not even respond. Let them win their summary judgement.

I know of someone who made a killing by illegally subletting apartments in Hollywood. Sometimes landlords could catch on and kick him out. However some actually wanted him back after dealing with problematic tenants. Now, unless he's found co-hosts for each stay, he's been put out of business by the city of Los Angeles' banning of people running multiple stays.

[Cormac0]

@David4665 

Take your punishment...

Now that I've read more of your comments I now regard you as an unscrupulous cheat, and people like you make me sick to my stomach.

Trying to make out your landlord is some sort of villain when in fact you’re the antagonist, I hope they throw the book at you, you’re simply a free loader. 

Did you ever thing that the landlord mother might have cancer too?

[David4665]

Please sir,  you are obviously a very wounded man. Does your insurance pay for therapy?  if so try some and reclaim your humanity, your children will be grateful. Not your fault too many dictators ruling Poland makes its citizens cold hearted haters. Sorry, maybe a better future for your children.