Winegard v. Levy

Burr, J. The premises were used for business purposes exclusively and were located at 3 and 5 First street, borough of Manhattan, city of New York. Bethany Smith was the owner in fee. She died in 1889 leaving a last will and testament whereby the testatrix devised the premises to Anah E. S. Tilson for life and upon her death to her issue who were Carrie T. Winegard, the appellant herein, and one Lida D. Klotz, who subsequently conveyed her interests to the appellant. The respondent obtained possession under a lease dated May 1,1911, made by the fife tenant, Anah E. S. Tilson, for the term of nineteen years expiring May 1, 1930. Anah E. S. Tilson, the life tenant, died December 23, 1915. Subsequent to the death of the life tenant the tenants paid to the remainderman’s agent $135.42 as rent of the premises in question for the month of January, 1916, and on February 7, 1916, the tenants paid to the remainderman’s agent the like sum [591] of $135.42 for the month of February, 1916, and received receipts for both payments which were produced upon the trial and marked plaintiff’s exhibits 4 and 5. Similar receipts produced by the tenants were introduced in evidence showing that the tenants paid rent to the agent of the remainderman for each month thereafter up to and including the month of November, 1921, when tins proceeding was instituted. It was conceded at the trial that prior to November 1, 1921, the thirty-day notice to quit the premises at the expiration of the month of November, 1921, was given to the tenants. The lease made by the life tenant terminated upon her death on December 23, 1915, and the acceptance by the remainderman of the rent reserved in the old lease created a tenancy at sufferance and by paying such rent for monthly periods the tenant became a monthly tenant. It is well settled that a lease for a period beyond the term of the life tenant terminates absolutely upon the death of the life tenant. In Barson v. Mulligan, 198 N. Y. 23, the court said, at page 25: “ The original entry by Mrs. Mulligan was under a lease from the tenant for life, whose death on the second of October, 1897, terminated the tenancy.” In Williams v. Alt, 226 N. Y. 283, at page 288 the court said: “ When Henry Mook died the lease made by him as owner of a life estate in the real property to the respondent Alt, terminated.” In Hinton v. Bogart, 166 App. Div. 155, 157, the court said: “ Undoubtedly by the death of the life tenant the lease by her of the property terminated and plaintiffs as owners of the property became entitled to possession thereof.” Upon the death of the life tenant and the acceptance of rent by the remainderman, the tenant became a tenant at sufferance which was converted into a monthly tenancy by the payment of monthly rents. Tunick v. Federal Food Stores, Inc., 117 Misc. Rep. 329; Hinton v. Bogart, 166 App. Div. 155. If the tenant pays rent and thereby attorns to the remainderman he can be removed in summary proceedings because the relation of landlord and tenant exists. Tunick v. Federal Food Stores, Inc., supra. The acceptance of rent from the tenant subsequent to the death of the life tenant was not a ratification or adoption of the lease. Tunick v. Federal Food Stores, Inc., supra; Hinton v. Bogart, supra. The institution of an action for the collection of unpaid rent which became due after the death of the life tenant has not the effect of ratifying the lease. Coakley v. Chamberlain, 8 Abb. Pr. (N. S.) 37. The life tenant’s lease having expired and a new estate of a monthly tenancy having been created, the final order is reversed, with thirty [592] dollars costs, and final order directed to be entered awarding to the landlord the delivery of the possession of the premises, with costs. Lehman and Lydon, JJ., concur. Order reversed.