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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999 Sep 03 - Cape Cod Times Article: "Landlord loses court fight, cash by fighting Irish"DS Cape Cod Times • A3 Irish students celebrate their court victory outside their new rental home in Hyannis. Holding the flag are Stephen McCormack, left, and James Dillon. In the front row, from left, are Kevin Scott, Peter Brennan and Peter Gordan. ARNOLD MILLER/ Cape Cod Times Landlord loses court fight, cash by fighting Irish ■ Students areV 3/%7 said they would not stay, Sid- dharth became awarded a small- allegedly abusive, accusing the couple of fouling up claims court victorythe room. The seven Irish workers had no after leaving intentions of being fussy about unsatisfactory rental. their summer rent. After looking for accommoda- tions for two weeks, they were al - By K.C. MYERS most ready to leave the country STAFF WRITER until they heard about the Brent - SOUTH YARMOUTH - While wood, Brennan said. many foreign students working At first glance, the cottage de - for the summer accept seedy con- tached from the rest of the motor ditions in order to save money forinn seemed a perfect alternative school, seven youths from North- to the Country Squire Motel in ern Ireland decided their landlord Hyannis, their temporary accom- had gone too far. modation. The seven young men won a The owners there had asked for suit against Siddharth Siddharth, rent up front, which was more owner of the Brentwood Motor than the students could afford Inn, in small -claims court Wednes- early in the season, Brennan said. day. Right from the start, the Brent - Citing conditions that were wood cottage seemed "a bit more than a "bit dodgy," the col- dodgy," said Peter Gordan, anoth- lege students were able to per- er student. suade a judge to award them But Siddharth assured them he $1,785 in damages. would soon supply the students That's triple the amount of their with an air conditioner, a working security deposit. By state law, a refrigerator, and a stove. Sid - tenant is entitled to triple the dharth said the hot water, which amount of a deposit if a landlord was in short supply, would also be refuses to return a security de- repaired by the time they had all posit without cause. their belongings moved in, Gor- The youths claim Siddharth dan said. told them they could rent their But as the days turned into two-bedroom cottage on Route 28 three weeks, none of the repairs by the week when they moved got done. Siddharth supplied there in June. But then when they them with a refrigerator "the size asked to leave three weeks later, of a microwave," said Kevin Scott, Siddharth told them they would Gordan's roommate. lose their deposit if they left be- The lack of air conditioning was fore Aug. 30. particularly troublesome since "He became quite aggressive, this was the heat wave. actually," said Peter Brennan, a "We couldn't swim in the pool, law student at the University of because we would be swimming Belfast. "He threatened to kill us if with the insects," said Brennan. we came back on his property to In fact, the Brentwood's pool ask for our security deposit has been condemned by the again." Yarmouth Board of Health for the C.K. Chaiton, the manager of whole summer. the Brentwood, declined to com- The youths never signed a ment. lease, so neither party could pro - The Brentwood Motor Inn was vide documentation to the terms closed for two days on Aug. 19 by of their agreement. a team of health, building, fire and Gordan said the Brentwood wiring inspectors after they found manager allegedly told the stu- 100 violations of town codes. dents a lease is unnecessary. He On Aug. 17, Siddharth was ar- told them,"`My word is my bond."' raigned on charges of extortion "We still had a good time this after he allegedly tried to charge summer," Brennan said. Spanish tourists $61 for a full "Even going to court, it has night's stay at the Brentwood. been brilliant." The couple had asked to look at The students spent the rest of a unit and then decided not to stay the summer in a two-bedroom after a view of the room.They also house in Hyannis that they shared used the bathroom. When they with eight other Irish workers.