When the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) entered into an agreement to house P. Pitt in one of Branic International Realty's hotel rooms, Pitt wasn't a party to the contract, and all rent was paid by the City.
After that arrangement expired, and HRA cancelled Pitt's placement, Branic sought to evict the guy, claiming that he was a mere "licensee" whose right to continued occupancy of the room had been terminated. Pitt, on the other hand, claimed he was a rent-stabilized, "permanent tenant" who was entitled to remain.
After the New York County Civil Court agreed with Pitt, and dismissed Branic's holdover case, an appeal to the Appellate Term, First Department, followed.
Since HRA placed Pitt in the room and paid the rent, the AT1 thought Pitt lacked an express or implied landlord-tenant relationship with the hotel. A a result, the guy was only a "licensee" whose occupancy entitlement was revocable.
The pits for Pit.
To view a copy of the Appellate Term's decision, please use this link: Branic Intl. Realty Corp. v. Pitt