Case Type

Holdover-Lease Expiration

Housing Type

Rent Stabilized

Court

Civil Court of the City of New York

County

Bronx County (Bronx)

L&T / Index / Case / Docket / Clerk's Number

L&T 350887-23/BX

Petitioner

Michael Clarke

Respondent

Ena May Haliman, John Doe, Jane Doe

Judge

Garland, Christel F.

Decision/Order Date

2025-10-07

Posture

Post-judgment Motion by Tenant

Disposition

Motion Granted for Tenant

Winner

Tenant Substantially Won

Synopsis

In a holdover proceeding, the tenant moved to vacate a prior stipulation of settlement and dismiss the petition, arguing the apartment was rent-stabilized. The court granted the tenant's motion, vacating the stipulation, judgment, and warrant. The court found that the building, constructed before 1974, de facto contained six housing accommodations, evidenced by Department of Buildings violations for cellar units and six mailboxes, despite the landlord's claim of four legal units. Consequently, the apartment was subject to rent stabilization, and the landlord's petition, based on lease expiration for an unregulated unit, failed to state a ground for eviction and was dismissed.

Keywords

De Facto Rent-Stabilization; 4-Unit Building Converted to 6-Units; DOB Violations & 6 Mailboxes; Final Judgment Stipulation Vacated and Petition Dismissed with Prejudice

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