Landlord & Tenant Law

In loft landlord's summary holdover proceeding against tenant, landlord appealed from the Appellate Division's affirmance of a grant of summary judgment to tenant. The Court of Appeals reversed and granted summary judgment to landlord, holding that prior landlord's purchase of prior tenant's improvements exempted the unit from rent regulation.

The subject building was registered as an interim multiple dwelling in 1983. In 1998, prior owner purchased the improvement and rights related to the disputed apartment. Prior owner then sold the building to current owner, who leased the unit for $4,250 (up from the $440 the unit had previously generated). In 2009, current tenant leased the unit for $4,000 for a five-year term, and in 2014, the parties extended the lease for an additional year at a rent of $4,200. Tenant continued to pay that rent on a month-to-month basis until 2016, when landlord sent tenant a notice of termination. When tenant refused to vacate, landlord brought this summary holdover proceeding. Housing Court granted summary judgment to tenant, concluding that the apartment had become subject to rent stabilization under the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA). The Appellate Term and the Appellate Division affirmed, and landlord appealed.