Sherwin Belkin, co-founding partner of Belkin Burden Goldman, was quoted in a recent THE CITY article addressing how landlords are testing the “demolition” exception under New York’s Good Cause Eviction Law.
The article, “To Evict Good Cause Tenants, Landlords Now Claim ‘Demolition.’ Is It Valid?,” examines a growing number of cases where landlords decline to renew leases while citing plans to demolish apartments or buildings.
Sherwin advised that he would tell any clients who want to evict tenants under Good Cause that they would need to pursue at least a gut renovation.
“You’re leaving the four walls of the apartment and maybe some of the partitions, but I wouldn’t leave in much more. The more you leave, the more there’s issues about whether or not you’re demolishing,” Belkin said. “Your best case is to create a blank box.”