Owners, Scholar Battle over House

A Harvard visiting scholar's refusal to vacate her rental property has led to the homelessness of two Cambridge residents, according to the landlords involved.

Randall Bird and Erich Theophile '81 are staying with friends and relatives and have been living out of suitcases for the past three months, even though they own a Greek revival house in the Central Square area. Their tenant, Maider Dravasa, a French visiting scholar in the department of Romance Languages, refuses to vacate the premises in spite of court orders that support her eviction.

Bird and Theophile rented the house to Dravasa in September of 1991 while on a sabbatical away from Cambridge.

Last April, when accepted by Harvard to pursue a Ph.D. in Fine Arts, Bird notified Dravasa, whose lease had run out the previous year, of their impending return.

Dravasa agreed to leave at the end of June, but Bird initiated eviction proceedings in May of last year when Drasava failed to provide a letter of intention, the landlords said.

A Cambridge Rent Control hearing in June set a court hearing for September 8, which ended in Bird and Theophile's favo., But Dravasa is still living in the house.

Soon after the owners filed for eviction, Dravasa filed for Rent Overcharge, a motion usually filed by tenants complaining of overly high rent. But Theophile said he believes she did this merely to complicate the situation.

"The legal monthly rate is $1370 and we are only charging her $420," said Theophile, who is currently staying with his mother.

"It's a weird case," said Bird. "It's just that she loves the house for the antiques inside because she thinks it's like her personality. Also, her father is a judge in France, and I think he told her thatshe should continue to stay in the house to seehow long she can hold out."

"The house is great," said Dravasa, when askedwhy she insisted on staying. She declined tocomment any further.

The owners expect Dravasa to appeal the verdictwithin the next week, when her 10-day waitingperiod following the eviction hearing runs out.

"She has no case," said Theophile. "This is nota case of hardship, nor does she have children tosupport. She just loves the house and thefurniture."

Theophile and Bird said they believe theirtenant is cashing in on the extended time periodprovided by slow-moving legal machinery.

"It can take up to four months before an appealhearing is scheduled," said Theophile.

"We've even offered to find her anotherapartment," he said, explaining that they have thefull support of their neighbors. "Even herboyfriend thinks it is immoral [for her to stay]".

Both Bird and Theophile said they are confidentthat they will eventually regain possession oftheir house.

"If I walked in and threw her stuff out, wewould probably lose the house. Our hands are tiedbut we will win the case," said Bird.

"Till then," said Theophile, "we are transientand homeless."

Jonathan Samuels contributed to thereporting of this article.

"The house is great," said Dravasa, when askedwhy she insisted on staying. She declined tocomment any further.

The owners expect Dravasa to appeal the verdictwithin the next week, when her 10-day waitingperiod following the eviction hearing runs out.

"She has no case," said Theophile. "This is nota case of hardship, nor does she have children tosupport. She just loves the house and thefurniture."

Theophile and Bird said they believe theirtenant is cashing in on the extended time periodprovided by slow-moving legal machinery.

"It can take up to four months before an appealhearing is scheduled," said Theophile.

"We've even offered to find her anotherapartment," he said, explaining that they have thefull support of their neighbors. "Even herboyfriend thinks it is immoral [for her to stay]".

Both Bird and Theophile said they are confidentthat they will eventually regain possession oftheir house.

"If I walked in and threw her stuff out, wewould probably lose the house. Our hands are tiedbut we will win the case," said Bird.

"Till then," said Theophile, "we are transientand homeless."

Jonathan Samuels contributed to thereporting of this article.