Growing up, Candyland was all the rage, but as an adult would you pay $84 bucks for an Airbnb called “Mandyland”?
Artist Mandy McCandless rents out her McKibbin Street Lofts apartment in Bushwick on Airbnb, dividing the pad into four funky Airbnb rentals, featuring names such as “The Cupcake Room,” “The Man Cave,” “The Art Room,” and yes, “Mandyland.”
Her neighbors, despite the nifty names, filed complaints with the city about transient residents, according to the New York Post.
McCandless, who also runs art-focused website Mandyland.com, said city inspectors checking out the 311 complaints could not do so without a warrant, according to a search warrant application filed in Brooklyn Supreme Court.
After receiving the warrant, the city hit McCandless with violations for illegal transient use and work without a permit, the Post reported. Inspectors said the pad was illegally divided, according to the Post.
McCandless told the Post, “To me, Airbnb equals affordable housing.”
Former Airbnb “hosts” — who run an apartment rental company — sued the company last month, claiming that the $25.5 billion company’s entire business model is illegal. In January, a court upheld the eviction of a rent stabilized tenant at Related Cos.’ MiMa apartment tower at 450 West 42nd Street who had rented his unit through Airbnb. [NYP] — Dusica Sue Malesevic