Tenant Fights Back Against Illegal Occupants

A young man moves into a dangerous living situation.

Michael Quan lives in a residential condo building in Chinatown. He claims that for years, two of the condo owners on the fourth floor have been illegally renting short-term space to transients. Folks, this is no family-owned bed & breakfast!

He also believes this illegal occupancy serves as a breeding ground for gambling, prostitution and other sorts of illegal activities.

"An open flow allowing crackheads, urine, feces, graffiti, gangs of kids drinking beer on the roof on a Saturday night and potential dangers fill my hallways," Michael says. "I don't want to wait for the day my building is burnt down or one of my loved ones is shot before these illegal operations are shut down."

Michael reported the owners of the fourth floor to the NYC Department of Buildings back in March. The agency cited violations for having 21 beds in one apartment, and another 14 in the next. Police have visited the site on several occasions and the owners were forced to take down their illegal wall partitions once before. But as soon as officials backed off, the walls were resurrected... putting the owners back in business.

Michael claims the owners repeatedly jam the front door and forcibly open the fire door to allow customers access to the building. They also tamper with security cameras to allow business to continue. After a lost customer knocked on his door looking for directions to the $18.00 per night "hotel", Michael called "Help Me Howard."

We called the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement (OSE), which deals specifically with adult use locations, lawless clubs, trademark counterfeiting bazaars, and illegal conversions of apartment buildings into hotels. Previously, Michael had made repeated complaints to building owners, the Fire Department, the NYC Department of Buildings, and even the organized crime unit of the NYPD. But, we were told he had to file a complaint with the OSE in order to jump-start an investigation with the proper city department.

In the interim, Michael decided to take action himself. Going undercover, he shot video of customers, room interiors and people distributing business cards. He also managed to get his hands on one of their business cards, advertising inexpensive, recently renovated rooms for rent. "Notice how the card has the same number posted in front of my door," he says. The cards advertise a clean bathroom, windows, A/C and a location close to transportation.

Of course, his undercover work came with it's own set of risks. Returning to his apartment one night, Michael told us that he'd found a dead bird left at his door - it's neck snapped.
When he returned just five minutes later to collect evidence, the bird had disappeared.
"I am being watched," says Michael, "and it's a result of my perseverance."

Within weeks of our calls, the OSE and Department of Buildings shut down the operation on May 20th, evicting the fourth floor tenants from the building.

The OSE had this to say:

The Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement issued a number of violations at 1 Eldridge Street. For the summonses that were issued, there are automatic fines of $5,000.00 with the possibility of a court ordering more.

In one unit, where unsafe conditions and accommodations for 17 people were found, an order to vacate the apartment was given. To occupy the apartment again, the owner needs to remove the illegal partitions and return the space to code.

"Thank you for all your efforts," says Michael. "It's because of you that the Mayor's office became involved. And now, they're gone. I can sleep better. For that, I am forever grateful."