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Local Real Estate Attorney Secures Property Turnover



A local real estate attorney in New York represented a commercial property owner facing a prolonged refusal by a former tenant to vacate a warehouse after lease expiration.

Although the tenancy had clearly ended, the tenant continued to occupy the premises, preventing the owner from re leasing the property and causing ongoing financial losses.

Through a carefully structured holdover proceeding and evidence based advocacy aligned with New York real property law, the local real estate attorney successfully obtained a court order compelling the tenant to surrender possession and deliver the property to the owner.

Contents


1. Local Real Estate Attorney New York Case Overview and Client Background


Local Real Estate Attorney New York Case Overview And Client Background

This case involved a New York property owner who leased a logistics warehouse to a commercial tenant under a fixed term lease agreement.

When the lease expired and negotiations failed, the owner sought guidance from a local real estate attorney to regain lawful possession through court intervention.



Client Background and Lease Structure


The client owned a commercial warehouse in New York used primarily for logistics and materials storage, and the property generated steady monthly rental income during the lease term. 

 

A two year written commercial lease was executed with a tenant who used the space for equipment and inventory storage, and the agreement expressly required the tenant to vacate the premises and restore possession to the owner upon expiration. 

 

Throughout the lease term, rent payments were made, and no dispute existed regarding the lease end date or its contractual conditions.



Lease Expiration and Initial Vacate Request


Prior to the lease expiration, the property owner provided clear written notice that the lease would not be renewed, and the tenant acknowledged that the tenancy would end on the agreed date. 

 

However, once the lease expired, the tenant requested additional time to remove stored materials and installed equipment, asserting that immediate relocation was inconvenient. 

 

Although the owner initially attempted informal resolution, the tenant repeatedly delayed vacating while continuing to occupy the warehouse without legal right.



2. Local Real Estate Attorney New York Legal Issues Arising from Holdover Occupancy


Once the lease expired, the tenant’s continued possession became unlawful under New York law, creating a classic commercial holdover scenario.

At this stage, intervention by a local real estate attorney was necessary to enforce the owner’s possessory rights.



Unlawful Possession after Lease Termination


Under New York Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, a tenant who remains in possession after the expiration of a lease without the owner’s consent is subject to a commercial holdover proceeding and is deemed to be unlawfully occupying the premises.

 

In this case, the tenant had no renewal agreement, no extension, and no statutory right to remain in the premises, yet continued occupying the warehouse solely for personal convenience. 

 

The local real estate attorney emphasized that logistical difficulty in removing equipment does not constitute a lawful basis to deny the owner possession.



Financial and Operational Harm to the Property Owner


As a direct result of the tenant’s refusal to vacate, the owner was unable to enter into a new lease with a replacement tenant, resulting in lost rental income measured in U.S. Dollars on a monthly basis. 

 

Additionally, the continued occupation restricted the owner’s ability to inspect, renovate, or repurpose the warehouse for alternative commercial uses. 

 

These losses reinforced the urgency of judicial relief and supported the claim for immediate surrender of the premises.

 



3. Local Real Estate Attorney New York Litigation Strategy for Property Turnover


Local Real Estate Attorney New York Litigation Strategy For Property Turnover

The local real estate attorney developed a litigation strategy focused on establishing the clear termination of the lease and the absence of any lawful justification for continued possession.

The objective was to obtain a court order directing prompt delivery of the property to the owner.



Establishing Lease Termination and Lack of Consent


The attorney first organized documentary evidence confirming the fixed lease term, the expiration date, and the owner’s written notice of non renewal.

 

By demonstrating that the owner never consented to post expiration occupancy, the attorney framed the tenant’s possession as strictly unlawful. 

 

This approach aligned with New York precedent recognizing that holdover tenants cannot condition surrender of possession on their own scheduling or convenience.



Addressing Remaining Equipment and Inventory


Anticipating the tenant’s defense that removal of equipment required additional time, the local real estate attorney clarified that New York courts do not permit indefinite occupancy based on internal operational delays. 

 

The attorney proposed lawful alternatives, including supervised removal following surrender, without allowing continued exclusive possession. 

 

This balanced approach reassured the court that property turnover could occur without undue hardship while preserving the owner’s superior rights.



4. Local Real Estate Attorney New York Case Outcome and Court Ruling


After reviewing the evidence and legal arguments, the court ruled decisively in favor of the property owner.

The judgment confirmed that the tenant’s occupancy had no legal basis and that immediate surrender was required.



Court Ordered Surrender of the Property


The court found that the commercial lease had validly expired and that the tenant failed to demonstrate any lawful justification for continued possession. 

 

As a result, the court issued an order directing the tenant to vacate the warehouse and deliver possession to the owner without further delay. 

 

This ruling reaffirmed the principle that ownership rights prevail once a lease term ends, absent a legally recognized extension.



Client Resolution and Practical Impact


Following the judgment, the owner regained control of the warehouse and was able to proceed with new leasing negotiations. 

 

The client expressed relief that a long standing issue was resolved through decisive legal action, noting that the involvement of a local real estate attorney transformed a stalled dispute into an enforceable outcome. 

 

This case illustrates how timely legal intervention under New York law can protect property rights and prevent prolonged financial harm.


10 Feb, 2026


The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading or relying on the contents of this article does not create an attorney-client relationship with our firm. For advice regarding your specific situation, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
Certain informational content on this website may utilize technology-assisted drafting tools and is subject to attorney review.

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