Landlord Fined $8,750 for Tenant's Short-Term Sublets

DOB issued four violation notices to landlord for: (a) converting a permanent dwelling to transient use; (b) failing to maintain a building in a code-compliant manner; and (c) failing to provide a fire alarm system. DOB's inspector stated that he found two people occupying an apartment for transient use who said they booked the unit through VRBO, no automatic sprinkler system in the apartment, no required means of egress for each floor as required for transient use, and failure to provide a fire alarm system as required for transient use. Tenant claimed that he didn't book short-term rentals, but inspection findings and listings under VRBO and Airbnb indicated otherwise. The ALJ fined landlord $8,750. Landlord appealed and lost. DOB proved, through inspector testimony and VRBO documentation, that the apartment was rented for short-term use. 

391 Second Avenue Realty Inc.: ECB App. No. 1901215 (9/26/19) [4-pg. doc.]