The city is suing a Chelsea landlord who turned his rent-stabilized, four-story walk-up into an illegal hotel using Airbnb and then ignored inspectors’ repeated citations and brushed off thousands of dollars in fines.
Building owner Philip Baldeo and another man allegedly rented six of nine units at 156 W. 15th St. to tourists using Airbnb over at least the past three years, according to a complaint the city filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
The city is asking for $1 million in damages for his “willful and wanton” creation of a public nuisance, as well as $5,000 a day for every unit rented out illegally.
“There must be zero tolerance for illegal hotels,” said Council Speaker Corey Johnson, whose district includes the property.
Inspectors confirmed apartments were being rented as hotel rooms on four occasions between August 2014 and September 2017.
The building has been given two-dozen building-safety violations for failing to install fire sprinklers and secondary exits required for hotels.
Baldeo has racked up $11,000 in fines, but he has only paid about $2,000, records show.
Reached at his Richmond Hill, Queens, medical practice, Baldeo declined to comment.