Long Beach Homeowner Pleads Guilty to Illegally Renting Out Rooms: City

A Long Beach homeowner recently plead guilty to multiple building code violations, including illegal room rentals and the existence of a commercial business in a residentially zoned area, according to City officials.

Omar Arana, 47, the owner of 149 West Chester Street, was sentenced on May 31 to pay a fine of $10,000 as part of a plea agreement for violations of the City of Long Beach Code of Ordinances, filed with the Court in early 2016, according to officials.

In January, the building department was notified of possible building code violations at the home and was inspected by Zoning Inspector Richard Schuh, accompanied by City of Long Beach Police Officers, along with Arana.

The investigation revealed that Arana had been charging approximately $560 a month for nine separate, illegally rented rooms throughout the two-family house in addition to running his landscaping business out of the basement which is a completely separate violation that has led to commercial vehicles being regularly parked in a residential zone., according to the city.

Arana, who was collecting a STAR exemption for the property to reduce his county taxes, claimed that he had to rent out the rooms to pay for his “$4,000 a month mortgage,” according to the building inspector.

In February, Arana was summonsed, arrested and arraigned by City Court Judge Frank DiKranis.

"Illegal housing endangers quality of life, overburdens our infrastructure, and creates parking problems," City Councilman Scott J. Mandel said. "We hope that the record fine and tough enforcement actions taken are a clear demonstration of the administration's resolve when dealing with this important issue, and a deterrent to anyone considering illegally renting their property in this future.”

The City urges residents who are aware of illegal apartments in Long Beach to contact the City’s Housing Task Force at 516-431-1000 ext. 239 or via email at illegalrentals@longbeachny.org.