280 East Burnside Avenue. Image Credit: Google Maps

Landlord attempted to evict tenant who owned a pitbull as an emotional support animal. On December 8, 2017, Javada James moved into a rent-controlled apartment located at 280 East Burnside Avenue in the Bronx.  Ms. James signed a two-year lease which contained a conspicuous provision prohibiting pets on the premises without landlord consent.  In December 2017, in an exchange of emails Ms. James notified the building’s landlord that she owned a female pitbull named “Bella,” and that she was medically in need of an emotional support animal. The landlord took no action with respect to the pet until after Ms. James notified the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development about the building’s lack of hot water and heat. (read more…)