Warning for landlords: beware of diminutive tenants wearing purple jumpsuits, you never know what they’re going to do to your property.
American basketball player Carlos Boozer should really have had his wits about him when he let his $11,9-m Hollywood home to a 47-year-old Minneapolis man with no surname.
Last May, Boozer, a star with the Utah Jazz basketball team, rented out his home for $70 000 a month to the pop star Prince. But despite an agreement that the tenant would make no alterations, Boozer soon noticed the appearance of his property had changed.
According to a lawsuit filed with the Los Angeles superior court, Prince painted the outside of the house in purple stripes, had his personalised hieroglyph painted on the house, as well as the number 3 121. Far from being a helpful guide to the postman, the number is the title of the resurgent singer’s latest album.
Inside, the singer installed a black carpet in a guest room and new plumbing for ”beauty salon chairs” and the carpet in the master bedroom was replaced with a purple monogrammed carpet.
Prince was given a ”three-day notice to cure or quit” in November. The lawsuit, which seeks damages in excess of $25 000 plus costs, was filed two months later.
Lawyers for Prince denied the allegations of wrongdoing and argued rent had been accepted in December and January. The lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn ”without prejudice”.
Prince fans will have a chance to examine his makeover close-up this week. In a nod to Willy Wonka, 14 copies of Prince’s new album contain purple tickets to a private performance at the house. – Guardian Unlimited Â