Rosario Dawson's family has been accused of swindling a couple out of their dirt-cheap apartment in a recently-renovated Manhattan building where the actress grew up.

A lawsuit filed by Jeffery Underwood and Amanda Davila claims Dawson's parents, Isabel and Gregory Dawson, 'conspired to, by hook and by crook, covertly acquire' their flat through a 'systematic and malicious' campaign, according to court documents obtained by the New York Post.

Dawson's family moved into the East Village squatter's den at 544 East 13th Street in 1986, and it was on the building's front stoop that she was discovered at age 15.

More than three decades later, Rosario is one of the biggest names in Hollywood with an estimated net worth of $16million. Her 2005 movie Rent saw her protest squatter's rights in the same neighborhood as she portrayed the character Mimi.

Though the actress is a known champion of affordable housing, her parents have been accused of carrying out a 'systematic and malicious' campaign to maintain control of the building meant for low-income families.

Rosario Dawson's family has been accused of swindling a couple out of their apartment in a rundown Manhattan building where the actress (above with mom Isabel in 2015) grew up

A lawsuit filed by Jeffery Underwood and Amanda Davila claims that Dawson's parents, Isabel and Gregory Dawson, 'conspired to, by hook and by crook, covertly acquire' their flat in the building at 544 East 13th Street (above), which is intended to be low-income housing

Underwood, who owns a bicycle shop, and Davila moved into their apartment in December 2013.

Two years later, all of the building's residents were forced to temporarily relocate as the nonprofit Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) was set to start long-delayed renovations under a city program that converts derelict housing into affordable co-ops.

The City of New York contributed $1.78million of taxpayer money for the renovations there and at another building.

After the renovations were completed, those who had previously lived in the building were given the chance to purchase apartments for $2,500 before outsiders could buy them for a much steeper price, with studios starting at $102,000.

Gregory Dawson had allegedly assured Underwood and Davila that they were first on the list of people eligible for the discounted rate.

However, their names were left off the final version of the list that the Dawsons and UHAB drew up after Underwood and Davila relocated.

Gregory and Isabel, who are separated, each got their own apartment in the 14-unit building, along with one for their son Clay and another for family friend Rex Hughes.

Underwood and Davila also accused the Dawsons of withholding the $3,000 monthly relocation payments they were promised.

The lawsuit states: 'The Dawsons have engaged in similar conduct over many years, ultimately manipulating the City of New York … and taking for themselves property and rights that the city and organizations have attempted to and intended to provide for others.'

The suit is seeking at least $250,000 in damages along with an apartment in the now-renovated building.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the involved parties for comment.

The Dawson clan moved into a fourth-floor apartment in the East Village squatter's den in 1986. Residents have accused Isabel Dawson (above with her daughter) of using nefarious tactics to take over other units in the building over the course of the last three decades

The Dawson clan moved into a fourth-floor apartment in the rundown building on East 13th Street back in 1986. Rosario Dawson once described it as 'a place with a huge, gaping hole in the ground and plastic for windows'.

Over the years the family held onto their first flat and acquired other units in the building, allegedly employing nefarious tactics to push out current residents in what has been described as a 'Dawson reign of terror'.

Allegations of the family's abuse first gained significant attention reports emerged that they wanted to buy the entire building in May 2017.

One resident who had lived in the building since 1984 claimed that Isabel Dawson had shoved and pushed her multiple times, according to The Post.

In 2001, then-president of the Tenants' Association Alfa Diallo wrote in a letter: 'Isabel Dawson's threatening and violent behavior have jeopardized the safety of the residents.'

In 2013, Isabel allegedly jackhammered through the concrete floor to open up access to the basement and create a duplex apartment without having obtained permits from the city.

Isabel responded to allegations that she and her family were taking over apartments by calling the claims 'gossip'.

'People malign me because my daughter is a celebrity and they think that her paycheck is mine. Rosario is my kid and she was raised in this building, so we can’t be as horrible as people make us out to be,' she told The Villager newspaper at the time.