“He Won’t Budge!“: New York Tenant Refuses To Move Out, Delaying A $70M Project, Ends Up Getting A $25M Lawsuit In Return

Every person wants to own a house at some point during their lifetime. It gives many folks a sense of completeness, stability and independence. You'll finally be able to create your ideal long-term nest, and you'll never have to deal with greedy landlords ever again. However, finding an appropriate housing deal that ticks all of your boxes is practically impossible – as there's always something that gets in the way, whether it's the skyrocketing prices or the jaw-dropping mortgage rates.

Of course, homeownership is a big financial decision, and before you know that you can fully commit to it without negatively impacting your lifestyle, you're stuck with renting. There's a common misconception about it; people say that it's a waste of money since you're not investing into anything and are basically throwing your money away. But you're financing a roof over your head, so how could it ever be wasteful? On the other hand, renting does come with a load of problems, and this 52-year-old tenant can definitely confirm.

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A 52-year-old Manhattan citizen and his dog have gotten themselves into a little bit of a pickle as the tenant is completely refusing to leave his perfect NYC apartment. The thing is, the man is delaying a grand $70 million condo project and has been sued for over $25 million.

Last summer, the Naftali Group, a privately held global real estate development and investment company, bought the Manhattan's Eagle Court building for $70 million and told all the tenants to skedaddle. Ahmet Nejat Ozsu, though, wasn't ready to give it up without a fight. The 52-year-old refused to move out of his one-bedroom apartment and together with his lawyer, Adam Leitman Bailey, they're expecting a seven-figure payout for the caused inconvenience.

Mr. Ozsu is holding on tight to his fairly spacious apartment with a private deck on the top floor of a beautiful NYC building. With a generous renting price of $3,350 a month, the Naftali group couldn't move the tenant with a $30,000 buyout offer – that, in fact, wouldn't even be able to sponsor him a year worth of rent, nor with a $25 million lawsuit that they recently filed against him. There are 128 apartments and only 16 tenants are still occupying the property – however, the man is the only renter who has not agreed to move out.

Moreover, Ahmet Nejat Ozsu and his lawyer believe that the new landlord is using bullying tactics to somehow convince the tenant to leave the premises. A security camera was installed in the hallway right outside Mr. Ozsu's apartment along with an industrial air filter that constantly irritates the man with its loud whirring.

The 52-year-old specializes in software engineering, though, until recently, he was unemployed and owes approximately $13,600 in rent. At the beginning of this year, Ozsu applied for an Emergency Rental Assistance Program that was created during the pandemic to make funding available to those who are unable to pay rent or utilities. If the request is approved, the man could be entitled to stay in his 700-square-foot home for at least another year.

Though the Naftali Group have yet to file for the construction permits, it was revealed that, in all likelihood, the 128-unit apartment building will be torn down and reconstructed into a luxurious tower.