Man Stays Rent-Free At Popular New York Hotel For 5 Years, Later Claims To Own It

A man found himself in legal trouble after exploiting a loophole in local housing laws to stay rent-free at a hotel in New York for five years. Taking advantage of the loophole, he not only avoided paying rent but also went as far as claiming ownership of the building and demanding rent from another tenant.

AP

Allegedly registered the hotel in his name

According to the court documents by Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the man, identified as 48-year-old Mickey Barreto, ¡°allegedly registered the hotel in his name, demanded rent from tenants, attempted to evict the previous owner from premises while making a series of fraudulent filings¡±.

¡°As alleged, Mickey Barreto repeatedly and fraudulently claimed ownership of one of the City¡¯s most iconic landmarks, the New Yorker Hotel,¡± said District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. ¡°We will not tolerate manipulation of our city¡¯s property records by those who seek to scam the system for personal gain,¡± Attorney Bragg added.

Found a loophole in local rules

According to court documents, Barreto's stay at the New Yorker Hotel began with a single night in 2018. However, he subsequently approached the hotel, seeking to establish a lease agreement. Barreto cited advice from his boyfriend, who purportedly informed him of a loophole in local regulations upon his relocation from Los Angeles to New York.

This loophole, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, purportedly permits occupants of single rooms in pre-1969 buildings to demand a six-month lease. Barreto contended that his payment for a single night qualified him as a tenant under this provision. When the hotel declined to enter into a lease agreement, Barreto reportedly left his belongings in the room and exited the building.

Then filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful eviction

Subsequently, the hotel returned his belongings and requested his departure. Barreto responded by initiating legal action, filing a lawsuit in housing court and alleging wrongful eviction. Consequently, a housing court judge issued an order granting Barreto possession of a specific room within the hotel.

However, the saga didn¡¯t end there. In 2019, Barreto uploaded fake documents onto the New York City Department of Finance¡¯s Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS), according to the court statement. He also uploaded a ¡°fraudulent deed purporting to transfer ownership of the entire New Yorker Hotel from a religious organisation, the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA), to himself¡±. He then started ¡°holding himself out as the owner of the hotel, including demanding rent from one of the hotel¡¯s tenants.¡±

¡°I never intended to commit any fraud. I don¡¯t believe I ever committed any fraud,¡± Barreto told the Los Angeles Times. ¡°And I never made a penny out of this,¡± he added. As per the outlet, Barreto says that his legal dispute is actually activism. He aims at denying profits to the HSA.

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