Assuming that rent regulation does apply to the premises, then the current occupants may be allowed successor rights once the original party on the lease either passes away or vacates the premises. For example, let’s assume Grandma rents an apartment subject to rent regulation, and only her name is on the original lease. As Grandma ages, some of her grandchildren move in to take care of her, and eventually become permanent occupants of the premises. Even though they are not listed as tenants on the original lease, these individuals, as family members occupying the premises, may be entitled to a successor lease once Grandma passes away or moves out of state.
A recent New York City Court case raises new possibilities regarding the legal definition of “family members” as they apply to more modern, non-traditional relationships. The case of West 49th Street, LLC v. O’Neill involved a New York City apartment which was occupied by three unmarried individuals, only one of whom was on the rent-stabilized lease. After the death of the named tenant, one of the other individuals claimed that he was a non-traditional family member, despite the fact that the third individual, and not him, was the “life partner” of the deceased for over twenty-five years.
The Court refused to dismiss the claims of the “third partner.” It stated that new developments in the law, including the United States Supreme Court’s decision recognition of gay marriage made it possible to argue that a “couple” could consist of more than two individuals. The third individual, even though he may not have been part of the original “couple” who occupied the apartment, would be allowed to present evidence that he was part of a family unit which consisting of not only two, but three individuals. As such, under New York law, he may be entitled to a successor lease after the death of the original tenant.
This area of the law is developing quite rapidly. Courts are generally reluctant to delve into the details of any personal relationship, but, given this ruling, they may be eventually conducting extensive fact finding to determine whether individuals were in an actual family relationship, allowing for the right to a succession lease. The fact that the parties may not actually be related to each other (as in the “Grandma” example earlier in this post) would not be relevant to such a claim.
Our firm will continue to monitor new developments, and will update our readers when formal rulings are made regarding “couples” of more than two individuals and their effect on successor rights to rent regulated premises.