Town: Shinnecock Hills Landlord Offered Illegal Rental to Undercover Agent

Southampton Town has secured a court order blocking a landlord described as a "chronic violator" of the town's code and rental law from renting out a house in Shinnecock Hills this summer.

Suzanne Tecza of New York City offered to rent her house at 98 Longview Rd in Shinnecock Hills for a one-week period in June to an undercover agent, according to town officials, but any rental period less than 30 days is illegal in the town of Southampton. As a result, on Thursday the town obtained a New York State Supreme Court temporary restraining order preventing Tecza from renting the house to anyone for any period of time.

Legislative aide Ryan Horn said the illegal rental offer was made a few weeks ago. Tecza could not be reached for comment.

The house is still advertised on StreetEasy.com for $60,000 from Memorial Day through Labor Day, $10,000 for the month of June, $25,000 for July, or $34,000 for August through Labor Day.

The listing describes the house as a "charming Hamptons style rental house, perfectly decorated." According to the listing, the house has eight bedrooms, five and half baths, a large dining room, a living room and a den with a fireplace, and is suitable for a large family with possible maid quarters. The listing explicitly stated that it is "not a party house." Other amenities include a large pool, basketball court, outdoor shower and wrap-around porch.

Town officials said rentals require a town inspection and permit, and rental periods of less than 30 days are considered "a de facto motel in violation of local zoning laws."

Chief Town Investigator David Betts said town code enforcement has found transgressions at the home since 2000, with more citations in 2005 and 2009 and twice in 2010, but Tecza still re-advertised the property again this year.

“Slumlords and party house owners should realize we see the same information customers do,” Betts was quoted as saying in a statement from the town. “We read the same magazines, visit the same websites and receive the same mailings.”

Betts added that it is not uncommon for a code enforcement officer to respond to an ad and have the owner offer an illegal rental right then and there.

Tecza's most recent violations arose from a search warrant that was executed at the Longview Road house on July 31, 2010, resulting in 16 charges and $7,500 in fines, on top of past charges that were still pending in , according to town officials.

"Over the course of an hour, inspectors found health and safety violations, including makeshift bedrooms, excessive vehicles and an insufficient number of smoke detectors," a town statement read.

There was also what authorities called "significant overcrowding" with 27 people living in the 2,607-square-foot home. Among them were Tecza, her then-newborn child, her mother and 24 transient renters, according to the town.

A warrant had also been executed in mid-June and a court-ordered inspection took place in between.

"At the time of the June search, it was found that the illegal bedrooms had been added and the house occupied by 21 people who rented it for the weekend," according to town officials.

The town code violations will be tried in Southampton Town Justice Court and the restraining order will be reviewed again by Judge Gerard Asher in New York State Supreme Court on May 16, according to town officials.