TV chef Madison Cowan using legal loopholes to avoid paying rent past 4 1/2 years: landlord

Rich Calder
·3 min read
Madison Cowan
Celebrity chef Madison Cowan has avoided multiple evictions by using legal loopholes, says his landlord. He owes 53 months in back rent to the tune of over $145,000 on a one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment he and his family have occupied since October 2019.
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Celebrity chef Madison Cowan has relied on soft eviction laws to avoid more than $145,000 in rent payments on his Brooklyn apartment the past four-and-a-half years, his landlord claims.

The British-born former champ of the Food Network’s “Chopped” and “Iron Chef” owes 53 months in back rent on a one-bedroom Boerum Hill pad he and his family have occupied since October 2019, according to landlord Gus Sheha.

Cowan hasn’t paid a cent of rent since January 2020, relying on legal loopholes like repeatedly appealing eviction orders to remain in the State Street apartment, said the landlord.

Celebrity chef Madison Cowan has avoided multiple evictions by using legal loopholes, says his landlord. He owes 53 months in back rent to the tune of over $145,000 on a one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment he and his family have occupied since October 2019. WireImage
Celebrity chef Madison Cowan has avoided multiple evictions by using legal loopholes, says his landlord. He owes 53 months in back rent to the tune of over $145,000 on a one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment he and his family have occupied since October 2019. WireImage
NYC Marshal Robert Renzulli (front) reads legal notice Wednesday on door of celebrity chef Madison Cowan’s apartment. Renzulli arrived planning to evict Cowan (back) but learned the chef had scheduled an appeal hearing.
NYC Marshal Robert Renzulli (front) reads legal notice Wednesday on door of celebrity chef Madison Cowan’s apartment. Renzulli arrived planning to evict Cowan (back) but learned the chef had scheduled an appeal hearing.

“I’ve never seen anything more absurd in my life,” fumed Sheha. “This is why people are getting out of New York. The system is completely broken and purposely set up to punish the landlord.”

“I’m out over $140,000 in rent, but I still have to pay for insurance, taxes, water,” he said.

Cowan – whose website notes he’s catered posh events for former President Bill Clinton, actress Scarlett Johansson and other A-listers — initially took advantage of a pandemic-driven, state moratorium on evictions from March 2020 through mid-January 2022.

Since then, judges have ordered Cowan’s eviction on five separate occasions — but he’s dodged each time by running to court and filing new appeals.

Cowan cooking at the 2012 No Kitchen Required cooking competition in NYC. WireImage
Cowan cooking at the 2012 No Kitchen Required cooking competition in NYC. WireImage

Sheha and his brother John, who co-owns the three-story building, learned about the latest appeal Wednesday when, accompanied by city Marshal Robert Renzulli, they arrived to evict Cowan.

Cowan boasted he’s been getting advice on how to avoid eviction from state Attorney General Letitia James and then claimed to make a call to the AG’s office while standing in front of them, recalled Sheha.

James’ office said it had no knowledge of being contacted by Cowan. Renzulli did not return messages.

Cowan, his wife and daugher have lived in the State Street building since October 2019. Helayne Seidman
Cowan, his wife and daugher have lived in the State Street building since October 2019. Helayne Seidman

Cowan is scheduled to appear in Brooklyn Housing Court Wednesday on the latest eviction bid.

He didn’t return phone messages and declined to open the door when The Post knocked Friday.

An hour later, two police officers responded to a 911 call for a “crime in progress” in the building but determined no crime occurred, said an NYPD spokesperson. It’s unclear who made the call.