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UWS Landlord Trying To Evict Alleged Airbnb Hotelier
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 5, 2014
Modified Oct 5, 2014
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 5, 2014
Modified Oct 5, 2014
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An Upper West Side landlord is trying to evict a tenant who he claims has been renting out various rooms in her duplex on Airbnb for the last couple years.
The Post reports that for the last two years, 62-year-old Noelle Penraat has been illegally renting out three of the four bedrooms in her $4,477-a-month apartment at The Brookford, which is located at 315 Central Park West, near W 91st Street.
Here's the Post's description of her places on Airbnb:
Penraat advertised a “lovely small bedroom in huge apartment” with “high ceilings” in a “beautiful pre-war apartment” in the tony neo-Renaissance building called The Brookford for $75 a night or $450 a week, according to court papers. Check-in time was 2 p.m., and guests forked over a $200 security deposit.
Another room, described on the controversial online apartment-renting service as a “sunny bedroom, Central Park View,” fetches $100 a night or $600 a week.
The deluxe “gorgeous master bed/bath on park” is the priciest of the bunch, garnering $150 a night or $1,000 a week, according to the suit.
Penraat was apparently the platonic ideal of an Airbnb host: she offered guests fresh linens and towels, free Wi-Fi, free maps of the city, a luggage dolly, magazines, snack bars and "unfettered access to and from the building." Penraat apparently only rented out three of the four bedrooms in her apartment, presumably so she could stay with her guests; perfectly legal activity according to the state's illegal hotel law, but apparently a violation of her lease.
She received some very positive reviews as well: "Staying at Noelle’s exceeded our expectations!" wrote someone named Laura in May. "She was such a sweet lady and so helpful!"
The listings have apparently been deleted from the web. We've contacted Airbnb for comment and whether or not they'll assist Penraat with her legal defense and will update if they respond.
Tagged
airbnb
eviction
lawsuit
noelle penraat
Upper West Side
uws
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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