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DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

New York City Housing Authority v. Pretto, 8 Misc. 3d 708 (2005)

Citation
New York City Housing Authority v. Pretto, 8 Misc. 3d 708 (2005)
Parent Document
New York City Housing Authority v. Pretto, 8 Misc. 3d 708 (2005)
Jurisdiction
New York (state)
Effective Date
2005-05-05

Other Sections in This Document (23)

Full Text

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Under Real Property Law § 231, where an occupant or lessee of any building or premises uses any part of the residence for illegal purposes, the lease becomes void by operation of law. Courts have interpreted this section to infer that the lease is voidable at the option of the landlord, and possession may only be recovered where the landlord commences a special proceeding (220 W. 42 Assoc. v Cohen, 60 Misc 2d 983 [App Term, 1st Dept 1969]). However, Real Property Law § 231 does not create a cause of action to evict a tenant. To evict a tenant a landlord must rely upon the provisions of RPAPL 711 (5) and 715 (1). RPAPL 711 (5) is the so-called “bawdy house” statute, and specifically permits a landlord to terminate a tenancy, where the premises are used as a bawdy house, or house or place of assignation for lewd persons, or for the purpose of prostitution, or for an illegal trade or manufacture or other illegal business. Under RPAPL 715 the Legislature empowered “other interested parties” to commence a special proceeding in a building where *712illegal activity occurs. Thus, a fellow tenant as well as the District Attorney’s Office may commence a proceeding to evict a tenant where the landlord fails to do so. Before such action is commenced, the party is required to serve a five-day notice on the landlord to compel the landlord to initiate a proceeding.