George and Amal Clooney’s Soho rental is operating as an illegal transient hotel
Photo of George Clooney via Wikimedia
George and Amal Clooney’s rental at 116 Sullivan Street has been operating as an illegal transient hotel, according to Page Six. Richard Fertig, the owner of the 19th-century, red brick building in Soho was hit last month by the city with four violations for illegally converting the basement apartment to “transient use.” Authorities say the apartment does not have mandatory fire alarms, exits or a certificate of occupancy.
The duplex apartment, which sits on the ground-floor and basement levels, sits within a four-story Federal townhouse, designated a New York City Landmark in the 1970s. Fertig, who purchased the apartment in 2007, describes himself as an “Airbnb super host” and “serial entrepreneur” in a video he posted on YouTube. In the same video, Fertig admits to renting out six luxury properties.
It is illegal in NYC for owners to list properties for less than 30 days, considered a short-term rental, unless they live in the building. Page Six learned Fertig also owns a home in the Hamptons.
The Clooneys are not the only celebrity couple to be caught staying at the illegally converted pad. Last month, the city’s Department of Buildings visited the apartment while John Legend and Chrissy Teigen were living there to investigate the illegal Airbnb. The couple quickly vacated the apartment.
A DOB hearing on the violations is scheduled for this Thursday. It’s unlikely the A-list Clooneys knew the apartment violated city laws. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office, Patrick Gallahue, said: “In many cases, guests are also victims of fraudulent marketing and are being illegally rented units that are not set up for short-term stays, which is potentially dangerous.”
[Via Page Six]
RELATED:
