A New York landlord named Ed Yau has recently made shocking allegations against a squatter who he claims has been subletting his apartment while owing a staggering $72,000 in rent.
'Betrayed' landlord accuses squatter of subletting and owing $72K in rent
For the past three years, the tenant Thor Boucher has consistently refused to pay any rent for the two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan's Lower East Side.
The monthly rent for this apartment is $2,000. This ongoing situation has become a dispute between Boucher and the landlord.
According to Ed Yau and Manhattan Civil Court documents, Boucher justified his non-payment by citing noise and disturbances in the building.
However, it has been discovered that he has been subletting the apartment for more than two years, charging a monthly rent of $1,950.
Ed Yau feels deeply hurt and deceived by the current situation.
He is frustrated with the lack of support and assistance from officials who could help resolve the matter.
In his view, the system is easily taken advantage of, as the housing court fails to function properly, allowing tenants to treat rent as optional without facing any repercussions.
Despite his efforts, Yau has encountered numerous obstacles in his attempts to evict the tenant.
He believes that existing state laws favor the rights of tenants, making it challenging for landlords like himself to protect their own interests.
Boucher reportedly took advantage of the Covid rent-relief program during the pandemic, which further protected him from eviction.
This has raised concerns among industry experts, such as Ann Korchak, president of the Small Property Owners of New York, who believes that stories like Yau's will lead landlords to withdraw their rental properties from the market.
When a tenant fails to pay rent, it places a heavy financial burden on small property owners.
This burden can have a significant impact on their ability to fulfill important financial obligations such as taxes and mortgage payments.
Ed Yau has shared his disappointment with State Senator Brian Kavanagh and state Assemblywoman Grace Lee.
He expresses that while they have shown sympathy towards his situation, they have not taken any tangible actions to address the issue.
Yau suspects that officials prioritize policies that favor tenants to gain support from a larger group of voters.
