A Holocaust survivor returned to her home in the Hamptons to find that her tenant was still there, refusing to leave, and had 'totally destroyed' some of her furniture, according to court documents.
Genya Markon, 78, spends the winters in Israel and the summers at her $675,000 home in Hampton Bays.
She had leased out the home in July 2020, and the lease expired on June 18.
But Markon says she flew into the U.S. only to find her tenant, Julie Rinke, still there.
Julie Rinke was seen on Thursday returning to a home owned by Holocaust survivor Genya Markon, 78 - which Rinke was supposed to vacate on June 18. Markon has now taken Rinke to court to try and force her from the property
Rinke has refused to comment when asked by DailyMail.com why she was still in the house
Markon's home in Hampton Bays was leased in July 2020, and was due to be handed over on June 18. Rinke, however, remains in the property
Rinke, a real estate broker, is accused by Markon of taking advantage of laws against eviction which were designed to prevent landlords taking advantage during the pandemic. Markon says her short-term lease does not apply
Markon's lawyer, Anthony W. Cummings, filed a suit in Suffolk Supreme Court at the end of June seeking Rinke's ouster as well as damages.
'She traveled all the way from Israel to spend the summer in her home and she has a tenant who won't vacate,' explained Rinke, according to The New York Post.
'Genya is in a real bad spot.'
On Thursday Rinke, a real estate agent, was spotted by DailyMail.com returning to the three-bedroom, two bathroom property.
She has not responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
A Southampton town police officer is seen talking to a neighbor, next to the home where Rinke is refusing to leave
Southampton Police were seen at the property on Thursday
Markon's home, set back from the road, is where she usually spends her summers but now she says she has nowhere to go
Markon said that Rinke is taking advantage of pandemic protection against eviction, designed to prevent unscrupulous landlords in New York from forcing people from their homes during the global crisis.
But the protection should not apply to short-term leases, Markon said.
'My tenant, who is also a real estate agent, refuses to leave in spite of the fact that she only has a seasonal lease and is not protected by the hardship application she filed,' Markon said.
Cummings questioned Rinke's qualifications, claiming in court filings that she 'is conducting herself in a bad faith, dishonest and manipulative way to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic and the mass confusion and gridlock in the lower courts all in an effort to block surrendering possession of the Premises.'
Cummings told the New York Post: 'All you have to do is check a box and you can stay for free until at least August 31st.
'What is it? The honor system? It is easy to abuse. There's no penalty for lying, and no evidence to prove.'
Rinke is also accused of failing to protect the property.
Some of Markon's belongings have been 'totally destroyed' and Markon found 'piles of garbage' festering outside the house.
Rinke also took down paintings already hanging in the space,