''Life Companion'' of Tenant Gets Apartment

April 1, 1999

LVT Number: 13118

Landlord sued to evict apartment occupant after rent-controlled tenant died. Occupant claimed she was tenant's ''life companion,'' and had lived with tenant since 1967. The court ruled for occupant and found that she proved a family-type relationship with tenant. Occupant was named in tenant's obituary as her companion. Occupant otherwise showed the emotional and financial commitment and interdependence needed to prove a family relationship. The fact that occupant had her own rent-stabilized apartment elsewhere didn't matter. She used that apartment as an art studio.

Landlord sued to evict apartment occupant after rent-controlled tenant died. Occupant claimed she was tenant's ''life companion,'' and had lived with tenant since 1967. The court ruled for occupant and found that she proved a family-type relationship with tenant. Occupant was named in tenant's obituary as her companion. Occupant otherwise showed the emotional and financial commitment and interdependence needed to prove a family relationship. The fact that occupant had her own rent-stabilized apartment elsewhere didn't matter. She used that apartment as an art studio.

Adler v. Harris: NYLJ, p. 29, col. 3 (3/24/99) (Civ. Ct. NY; Kramer, J)

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