Antoni Ghosh claims in his lawsuit that the couple has not paid any rent since their lease expired in 2017 and is owing him more than $120,000.
- Mar 4, 2019
AceShowbiz - Emily Ratajkowski and Sebastian Bear-McClard apparently have been living rent-free at their loft in New York for two years, and their landlord is livid. Antoni Ghosh is now suing the married couple for exploiting the law and wants them to be evicted from the loft, which is located at 49 Bleecker Street in NoHo neighborhood.
According to the lawsuit, the couple has not paid any rent since the lease expired in 2017. Antoni stated that Emily and his filmmaker husband are now owing him more than $120,000. As for how the lovebirds were able to live without paying rent, Antoni accused them of exploiting a loophole called the Loft Law, which partially intended to help low-income people living in Manhattan from getting evicted for not paying rent.
Under the law, they couldn't be evicted if their building didn't have a certificate of occupancy or installed fire and other safety protections. The building that Emily and Sebastian lives doesn't have neither of that, so they couldn't be evicted.
Carolyn Daly, a spokeswoman for a coalition of loft building owners, criticized the "Gone Girl" star and Sebastian for "taking advantage" of a law meant to struggling people. "Here is a prime example, in prime NYC real estate, where an uber-wealthy celebrity couple and tenant can take advantage and exploit a law that was intended for truly struggling artists and low-income families in need of affordable housing," she said.
Several of their neighbors have also voiced their disappointment for the couple. "It's really unfair... This guy [Sebastian] is a double-insult to our street," one said. "He's a moneyman who can easily pay his rent and just chooses not to. I hope he gets evicted as soon as possible so that his apartment can go to someone more deserving -- maybe someone with a little humility."
Michael Kozek, Sebastian's attorney, has responded to the suit and defended his client. "Mr. McClard is fighting to save his home, which he has lived in for years," he said. "He's an artist. Born and raised New Yorker and a child of artists who themselves fought to save their home, including under the Loft Law."
Sebastian is worth of $11 million, while Emily has a net worth of $6 million.
