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189 Misc. 850

Schwartz v. Nudelman

City of New York Municipal Court

Decided September 10, 1947

City of New York Municipal Court · decided 1947-09-10

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently July 1948

2 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“Section 209(a). No action or proceeding to recover possession of any controlled housing accommodations with respect to which a maximum rent is in effect under this title shall be maintainable by any landlord against any tenant in any court, notwithstanding the fact that the tenant has no lease or that his lease has expired, so long as the tenant continues to pay the rent to which the landlord is entitled unless:”

quoted by 1 later decision, including 87 Cal. App. Supp. 2d 926 - Gibson v. Corbett

“One of the principal purposes of this emergency legislation is to control and limit evictions from housing accommodations because of the existing dire housing shortage. The extent to which Congress has seen fit to allow evictions in view of the general public need is set forth in Section 209 of the Statute.”

quoted by 1 later decision, including 87 Cal. App. Supp. 2d 926 - Gibson v. Corbett

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1947-09-10

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Loreto, J.

¶1The landlord has instituted this summary proceeding seeking possession of an apartment upon the following ground stated both in his thirty-day notice terminating the tenancy and in his petition, to wit: “ Landlord is a practicing dentist and requires these premises in good faith for his use and occupancy as a dental office and living quarters.” And upon the trial the landlord testified that he intends to use the premises both for residence and office purposes.

¶2The landlord presumably is proceeding under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of section 209 of the Housing and Bent Act of 1947 (H. S. Code, tit. 50, Appendix, § 1891 et seq.), which reads in part: “ (a) No action or proceeding to recover possession of any controlled housing accommodations … shall be maintainable '… unless … (2) the landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of such housing accommodations for his immediate and personal use and occupancy as housing accommodations …

¶3This case squarely presents this question for decision under the foregoing section and subdivision of the statute: May a landlord obtain an eviction of a tenant where he intends to put the promises to a double or multiple use, one being for housing accommodations? Or stated differently, may an eviction be had where the landlord intends to use the premises for business or other purposes, not trivial or minor, in addition to dwelling purposes ? The court is constrained to answer it in the negative.

¶4One of the principal purposes of this emergency legislation is to control and limit evictions from housing accommodations because of the existing dire shortage of housing. The extent to which Congress has seen fit to allow evictions in view of the general public need is set forth in section 209 of the statute.

¶5It is not within the province of the court to extend or limit the classes of cases in which evictions may be had or denied. If the court were to do so, it would then be usurping the powers and function of the Legislature.

¶6*852Under the aforementioned paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of section 209 the landlord’s right to recover possession of the premises is allowed where he seeks them for personal use and occupancy as housing accommodations. That is the single purpose therein specified for which an eviction may be maintained thereunder. The statute is clear and unambiguous. The court must accept its unequivocal statement as limiting the recovery to that specific use, i.e., as housing accommodations. If the Congress intended to permit evictions under this subdivision where the landlord seeks the housing accommodations for business or other purposes in addition to personal use for housing accommodations, it could have said so.

¶7The salutary purposes of this emergency legislation would be greatly reduced, if not nullified, by allowing the use of existing housing accommodations, in part for business or purposes other than dwelling. It is evident that Congress did not thus intend to'reduce existing housing accommodations.

¶8Other questions have been raised by the parties, which the court does not deem necessary to pass upon in view of its holding on this determinative point.

¶9The petition is therefore dismissed without prejudice to the landlord’s right to institute a new proceeding, if he be so advised, within the terms of the said statute.

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