More detectives scoping out illegal NYC tenants in down economy

As more New Yorkers try to make an extra buck in the rocky economic environment, private detectives say they’re seeing more work tracking illegal tenants, according to the New York Times. While taking advantage of rent-regulated units has long been a tenant con, detectives say that practice — along with illegal subletting — has spiked in the recession. Joseph Mullen, a private detective for more than 40 years, says that already cash-strapped landlords are now flocking to his eponymous firm to remedy the problem. “The landlords say, ‘I got to get these illegal tenants out and make some money,'” Mullen said. As The Real Deal previously reported, background checks on prospective tenants have also become increasingly common, as landlords grow more cautious in the unstable economy. [NYT]