A FUMING tenant has claimed that a landlord hounded them out of their tiny home by cutting down all the surrounding trees.

In Saratoga, New York, about 33 miles north of Albany, the owner of a mobile home park near Saratoga Lake reportedly seeks to rush development plans.

The plans would result in the eviction of the current residents at Saratoga Lakeview Mobile Home Park — but the redevelopment process won’t take effect until 2026, per the Times Union.

That means the landlord will have to wait a little less than three years for residents to vacate the premises, something a few have reportedly claimed he’s trying to force to happen sooner.

The state Division of Homes and Community Renewal even recently stepped in to issue a formal letter to the landlord, Michael Giovanone, that he must maintain the Saratoga Lakeview Mobile Home Park until the redevelopment plans are initiated.

“This letter is also meant to remind you of your legal obligation to fulfill your duties under the Park’s contract to purchase and the Certification you signed on March 31, 2021, prohibiting a change-in-use of the Park for 60 months (5 years) from the date of your purchase of the Park on March 31, 2021,” the letter, obtained by The U.S. Sun, read.

“Your failure to comply with the above directives may result in further administrative and legal actions by HCR.”

The document specifically stressed that Giovanone “refrain from harassing, intimidating, and/or threatening tenants with eviction of any kind.”

It’s unclear if Giovanone issued a response to the Division of Homes and Community Renewal.

It also isn’t the first time a letter was sent to the Saratoga landlord.

The New York State Attorney General’s office sent a notice to Giovanone in June 2022 due to several alleged complaints from tenants.

“Cease and desist your harassment of tenants,” the office demanded.

Complaints reportedly ranged from the supposed cutting down of trees surrounding mobile home properties to the demolishing of homes that residents left without permits from the town, according to the Times Union.

Zoning Officer Gil Albert explained to the Times Union that the court costs would outweigh the fine money they received if they charged the landlord.

“It’s a waste of taxpayer money,” Albert told the publication.

Other residents’ complaints, aside from the destruction of trees and homes, reportedly included accusations of general pressure to leave from Giovanone.

Two residents also reportedly noted that they could not speak of the circumstances surrounding their recent departure from the Saratoga Lakeview Mobile Home Park because of a non-disclosure agreement with the landlord.

Read Related Also: Scarlett Westbrook Parents: Meet Father, Mother And Family Tree

Although Dio Kaufman, one of the last two residents currently living in the tiny home community, claimed that she was repeatedly harassed by Giovanone.

She accused the landlord of having her arrested for trespassing after blocking workers from taking down trees in the community.

At least 20 families have left since the supposed problems from Giovanone started.

“I’m frustrated that it has gotten to this point, but I’m not surprised,” Kaufman said.

“By the time you take him to court, you will have everyone out of here. I’m disgusted that the town let it go this far.”

The tenant continued: “The town knew what Giovanone was doing. Why has it been left with low-income people who live in the park to fight this?”

Giovanone has defended his position, revealing his desire to expand his Boat N RV Condos business onto the mobile home park land in an Article 78 filing to Saratoga’s Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board.

Article 78 filings in the state of New York are lawsuits intended to “challenge an action (or inaction) by agencies of New York State and local governments,” per LawNY.

In the landlord’s case, he’s requesting that the board review the plans to extend the boat storage business into the Saratoga Lakeview Mobile Home Park.

He also did not provide any mention or response to claims of harassing tenants in the legal document.

In November 2022, then-planning board chair Ian Murray told Giovanone they would not review the plans because “Mr. Giovanone gave a five-year window for residents to stay.”

“That’s what’s going to be honored.”

Even so, Giovanone has argued since that the mobile home park should not be considered a community residence with less than three tenants left renting in the space.

A letter from Town Attorney Jaqueline White on September 6 confirmed that the plans would in fact be reviewed by the Planning Board at a September 27 meeting.

Giovanone told the board at the meeting he wanted approval for his plans as soon as possible.

Despite the firm position of the landlord, the recent letter from the Division of Homes and Community Renewal emphasized that he must issue “renewal leases” for all remaining tenants.

They added that the “change-in-use of the property is prohibited.”

The U.S. Sun has contacted Giovanone’s attorney, William Keniry, on the Article 78 filing and the accusations from tenants at the Saratoga Lakeview Mobile Home Park.