<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                                                               February 18, 1999

CITYSCAPE CORP.
Eight Skyline Drive
Hawthorne, New York  10532

Subject: Temporary Rental of approximately 30,910 square feet at Eight Skyline
         Drive, Hawthorne, New York

Dear Gentlemen:

This is to confirm that we as "Owner" have agreed to lease to you, and you as
"Tenant" have agreed to hire from us, on a temporary basis, approximately 30,
910 square feet at Eight Skyline Drive, Hawthorne, New York as per the plan
attached hereto and made a part hereof ("Initial Premises") for a term
commencing February 1, 1999 and ending February 21, 1999. Owner has agreed to
lease to Tenant, on a temporary basis, a portion of the Initial Premises
consisting of approximately 5, 710 square feet ("Remaining Premises") for a term
commencing February 22, 1999 and ending June 30, 1999. The Initial Premises
shall be tendered to Tenant in their present "as is" condition. Owner shall
perform no service and do no work other than that which is specifically set
forth herein, and Tenant shall not make any alterations or additions without the
prior written permission of Owner. Tenant shall occupy the Initial Premises,
including the Remaining Premises for general office use only. Tenant shall
vacate the portion of the Initial Premises not included within the Remaining
Premises ("Surrendered Premises") on or before February 21, 1999 in reasonable
condition and repair, broom clean, and, on or before February 28, 1999, remove
Tenant's furniture, fixtures and rolling file system from the Surrendered
Premises. In any event, Owner shall have access to the Surrendered Premises
after February 21, 19999 to prepare the Surrendered Premises for occupancy by
the succeeding tenant, provided that Owner shall not damage Tenant's furniture,
fixtures and rolling file system. If Tenant fails to remove its furniture,
fixtures and rolling file system from the Surrendered Premises by February 28,
1999, Owner shall have the right to remove such furniture, fixtures and file
system and store same at Tenant's sole cost and expense. Tenant shall vacate the
Remaining Premises on or before June 30, 1999 in reasonable condition and
repair, broom clean, and shall remove Tenant's satellite dish and related
equipment and repair any damage to the building resulting from such removal.
Owner, at its sole cost and expense, shall relocate Tenant from the Surrendered
Premises to the Remaining Premises, in accordance with the attached schedule,
including furniture, files, telephone system, Davox system, satellite computer
equipment, (2) T-1 lines, and telecom/computer room. In addition, prior to
February 20, 1999, Owner, at its sole cost and expense, shall install electric
outlets and supplemental air-conditioning in the Remaining Premises to service
Tenant's telecommunications/data requirements, as shown on the attached plan.*

Tenant hereby agrees to pay to Owner as rent hereunder the sum of $102,780.00
per annum, payable in equal monthly installments at the rate of $8,565.00 per
month. Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Tenant shall pay to
Owner one month's rent in advance and $63,921.14 as security. Upon the
expiration of this Agreement, the security shall be promptly refunded to Tenant,
minus such amounts as may be incurred to return the premises to a reasonable
condition and repair, broom clean, or to cure defaults incurred subject to the
terms herein.

The rental includes all utilities, real estate taxes, grounds and structural
maintenance (except window glass) and water for ordinary sanitary and janitorial
purposes. Tenant agrees to maintain the interior of the premises
<PAGE>   2
in good repair, and to contract for cleaning services and rubbish removal. Owner
shall maintain the heating, ventilation and air conditioning units servicing the
Temporary Premises. Tenant shall be liable for any damage to the premises or the
mechanical systems caused by Tenant or Tenant's agents, normal wear and tear
excepted. If Tenant fails reasonably to cure a default, Owner may do so for
Tenant and charge Tenant the reasonable cost thereof. Tenant shall not engage in
any activity which would prevent nearby tenants from having the quiet enjoyment
of their premises. Tenant shall comply with any rules or regulations promulgated
by Owner for the common areas, grounds, access roads and the building of which
the Initial Premises are a part.

Tenant shall have the use of not more than 34 parking spaces within a reasonable
and feasible distance of the Remaining Premises. Tenant shall not park vehicles
overnight nor use the loading docks for any purpose other than loading and
unloading.

Tenant agrees to occupy the Initial Premises and the Remaining Premises at
Tenant's sole risk, and will provide and keep in force during the term of this
Agreement comprehensive general public liability insurance against claims
arising out of the operation of the Initial Premises and the Remaining Premises,
as the case may be, in limits of not less than $2,000,000 combined bodily injury
and property damage, on an occurrence basis and shall submit to Owner evidence
of having covered such insurance prior to occupancy. Tenant shall hold Owner
harmless from any claims or injury caused as a result of Tenant's occupancy.
Tenant shall comply with the regulations of the Fire Department, the insurance
rating organization, and other authorities having jurisdiction. Tenant shall
promptly discharge or bond any mechanic's liens which are filed against either
party or the building as a result of any contracts or activities of Tenant.
Tenant shall not store any materials or engage in any practices which would have
the effect of increasing the insurance rates on the building or its contents
above what they would be if Tenant were not in occupancy of the Initial Premises
or the Remaining Premises, as the case may be. Tenant shall not store any
materials or rubbish outside the Initial Premises or the Remaining Premises.

Owner and Tenant mutually waive trial by jury in any action, proceeding brought
by either of the parties hereto against the other (except for personal injury or
property damage). It is further mutually agreed that in the event Owner
commences any summary proceeding for possession of the Initial Premises or the
Remaining Premises, Tenant will not interpose any counterclaim of whatever
nature.

During the term, Tenant will permit Owner reasonable access to the Initial
Premises and the Remaining Premises for the purposes of maintaining the
building, to perform construction work in the Initial Premises and the Remaining
Premises for Tenant's benefit or for the benefit of neighboring tenants and
future tenants, at times of emergency, for the showing of the initial Premises
and Remaining Premises to prospective tenants, and for other reasonable
purposes. Owner shall be given a key to the Initial Premises and Remaining
Premises, and in the event Tenant does not respond to reasonable notice, Owner
may use the key to enter the Initial Premises or the Remaining Premises, as the
case may be. Such entry into the Initial Premises and the Remaining Premises for
any of the aforementioned purposes shall not constitute an eviction,
constructive or otherwise, or entitle Tenant to any abatement of rent. Tenant
shall cooperate with Owner during the performance of any construction work in
the Initial Premises and the Remaining Premises by removing all wall hangings or
relocating any personnel, furniture or equipment, as necessary.

Tenant acknowledges that possession of the Surrendered Premises must be
surrendered on February 21, 1999, time being of the essence. The parties agree
that the damage to Owner resulting from failure by Tenant to surrender
possession of the Surrendered Premises on a timely basis will be extremely
substantial, 
<PAGE>   3
will exceed the amount of rent payable hereunder and will be impossible of
accurate measurement. Tenant shall pay Owner, as liquidated damages for each
month and for any portion of a month during which Tenant holds over in the
Surrendered Premises after February 21, 1999, a sum equal to $51,516.67 per
month. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize Tenant to remain in
occupancy of the Surrendered Premises after February 21, 1999. If Tenant has
vacated the Surrendered Premises but Tenant has failed to remove all of its
fixtures, furniture and equipment ("F, F & E") from the Surrendered Premises,
then, instead of charging Tenant a holdover rental as set forth above, Owner
shall remove such F, F & E from the Surrendered Premises and store such F, F & E
all at Tenant's sole cost and expense.

Tenant acknowledges that possession of the Remaining Premises must be
surrendered at the expiration or sooner termination of the term, time being of
the essence. The parties agree that the damage to Owner resulting from failure
by Tenant to surrender possession of the Remaining Premises on a timely basis
will be extremely substantial, will exceed the amount of rent payable hereunder
and will be impossible of accurate measurement. Tenant shall pay Owner, as
liquidated damages for each month and for any portion of a month during which
Tenant holds over in the Remaining Premises after expiration or sooner
termination of the term of this Agreement, a sum equal to $17,130.00 per month.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize Tenant to remain in
occupancy of the Remaining Premises after the expiration or sooner termination
of the term. If Tenant has vacated the Remaining Premises but Tenant has failed
to remove all of its F, F & E from the Remaining Premises, then, instead of
charging Tenant a holdover rental as set forth above, Owner may remove such F, F
& E from the Remaining Premises and store such F, F & E all at Tenant's sole
cost and expense.

Tenant may terminate this Agreement at any time upon not less than 15 days prior
notice to Owner. In such event, Tenant shall vacate the Initial Premises,
including the Remaining Premises, in accordance with the first paragraph of this
Agreement and Tenant's obligation to pay rent shall cease upon the effective
date of such termination.*

Tenant, at Tenant's sole cost and expense, shall provide, keep and maintain fire
extinguishers and any other nonstructural fire safety equipment required by laws
and requirements of public authorities. At the expiration or earlier termination
of the term of this Temporary Lease, Tenant may remove from the Initial Premises
any fire extinguishers provided by Tenant.

Tenant and Tenant's invitees shall observe and comply with the Rules and
Regulations attached hereto, and such additional Rules and Regulations as Owner
or Owner's agents may from time to time adopt. Notice of additional Rules and
Regulations shall be given to Tenant. Owner shall have no duty or obligation to
enforce the Rules and Regulations or the terms, covenants or conditions in any
other lease, against any other tenant of the Building or in the Park, if
applicable, and Owner shall not be liable to Tenant for violation of the same by
any other tenant or its invitees. In the event of a conflict between the Rules
and Regulations and the provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this
Agreement shall prevail.

This Agreement is subject and subordinate to all present and future mortgages or
other encumbrances affecting the Initial Premises or the property of which the
Initial Premises are a part. This provision is self-operative and no further
instrument shall be required to effect such subordination.

Tenant shall look solely to the interest of the Owner in the building for the
satisfaction of Tenant's remedies, and no other property or assets of the Owner
shall be subject to levy, execution or other enforcement procedure for the
satisfaction of Tenant's remedies.
<PAGE>   4
The Tenant represents that it has dealt with no broker in connection with this
Temporary Lease Agreement.

This Agreement shall not bind the Owner unless and until it has been executed by
the Owner and delivered to the Tenant or Tenant's attorney.

This Agreement is subject to the approval of the United States Bankruptcy Court
having jurisdiction over Tenant.

If the foregoing meets with your approval, please sign all three copies of this
letter and return them to us together with the first month's rent and the
security stipulated herein. Upon being countersigned, we will return one copy to
you for your files.

                                           MACK-CALI MID-WEST REALTY
                                           ASSOCIATES L.L.C.
                                           By:  Mack-Cali Realty L.P.,
                                                    Member

                                                By:  Mack-Cali Realty          
                                                     Corporation, General      
                                                     Partner                   
                                                                               
                                                By: /s/ Michael A. Grossman    
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                    Vice President             
Agreed and consented to                         
CITYSCAPE CORP.
By:/s/ Peter S. Kucma
   --------------------------
     Authorized Signature

Owner shall make all efforts to ensure that Tenant's operation is not disrupted
due to Owner's relocation from the surrendered premises to the Remaining
Premises. In the event of such disruption, Owner shall make all efforts to
remediate such interruptions as expeditiously as possible. In the event that
Owner delays the relocation from the surrendered premises to the remaining
premises, the February 28, 1999 vacate date shall be extended a day for a day.