NEW YORK - A Manhattan landlord is accused of converting a rent stabilized building into an illegal hotel, which included AirBnb rentals.

The mayor's office says the building at 156 West 15th Street in Chelsea has a long list of complaints and violations dating back to 2014.

It claims the owner, Dr Phillip Baldeo, has posted AirBnB ads for the building as recently as this month.

Now the city is suing Baldeo in hopes of sending a message to other landlords.

"The fact that he ignored four rounds of violations in more than three years we sure hope that the lawsuit will stop, once and for all stop him from continuing operating as an illegal hotel and return these affordable housing back to New Yorkers to live," said Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement Deputy Director Catherine Wan.

The is the 11th lawsuit the City has brought against owners or operators of illegal hotels. 

Just last month a landlord paid more than $1 million in the largest settlement of an illegal hotel case with the city.