Landlord Fined $53,000 for Illegal Transient Rentals of Apartment

DOB issued violation notices to landlord for using an apartment in a residential building for short-term transient use of less than 30 days. There had been two prior violations. DOB’s inspector testified that he visited the apartment and a woman staying there for three or four days said she paid $20 per night and showed him reservation information on her cell phone. Landlord claimed that the apartment’s tenant conducted the short-term rentals and that he had moved out after landlord demanded that tenant stop doing this. The ALJ ruled against landlord and find it $53,000, including daily penalties. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord didn’t submit sufficient proof of correction. There was no evidence of steps made to assure that the apartment was no longer being advertised for short-term stays and that tenant no longer sought transient subtenants. The aggravated penalty imposed was appropriate for the repeat violation. [Download PDF of decision here.]

Ding Sheng Realty Corp.: ECB App. No. 1700105 (4/20/17) [4-pg. doc.]