Illegal Rentals In 2 Midtown Buildings Hit With $86K In Fines

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The owners of two Midtown buildings were fined more than $86,000 combined for hosting illegal short-term rental apartments, the city's Department of Buildings announced Monday.

The fines were issued at hearings in January for rentals that were shut down in 2019 and 2020, the city said. State law bans short-term rentals under 30 days where the property owner is not present.

The first case began in July 2019, when city inspectors responded to a 311 complaint alleging that multiple apartments at 310 East 55th St. were being illegally rented as short-term hotel rooms.

Inspectors found guests staying in an eight-floor apartment who said they had booked their short-term stay on Booking.com. The unit also lacked required safety measures like sprinklers and a fire-alarm system, according to the DOB.

The second case stemmed from a March 2020 inspection at 442 10th Ave., which also came in response to a 311 complaint. There, guests staying in a second-floor apartment told inspectors that they had booked their stay through Airbnb. That room, too, lacked sprinklers and a fire-alarm system.

Hearings for both buildings were held on Jan. 14 at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. The 55th Street owner was fined $26,750 for the illegal rental, the lack of safety measures and illegal wall demolitions, while the 10th Avenue owner was fined $60,000 for the rental and safety concerns.

The 10th Avenue owner did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while the 55th Street owner's contact information was not available.