The Times reports that housing court cases for nonpayment of rent jumped 19 percent in the first two months of 2009 from last year, and though records aren't kept on the income of tenants brought to court, the paper notes growing numbers of accountants, salespeople, small business owners and other white-collar professionals who are falling behind on their rent. The cases in what is traditionally known as "poor people's court" now include, for example, $5,700-per-month rentals in Tribeca. Says a lawyer who represents luxury building owners, "It's not about, 'If you don’t have the money, get the hell out. It's about, 'Look, we want to work it out.' Nobody wants vacancies in high-end apartments." [NYT]
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