I can't give it away, but I have a sink just like what you're looking for. The big problem with these old sinks is finding a replacement faucet. No one really manufactures those side-mounted faucets anymore. I got a replacement through a catalog about five years ago--Restoration Hardware?--but when I received the same catalog the next year, the faucet was gone.

Posted by: Iris at November 20, 2009 9:46 AM in response to in need of old sink!

Does the building have a residential certificate of occupancy? My guess is that it doesn't, in which case your "artist loft" lease is really just a commercial lease, so any rules regarding subtenants/roommates don't apply. In fact, without a CofO (or inclusion in the CofO process under the Loft Law), it isn't legal for anyone to live there.

Posted by: Iris at November 4, 2009 9:29 AM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

It is impossible to change the CofO for one unit in a building.

Posted by: Iris at September 11, 2009 3:28 PM in response to C of O Change in Loft

Apparently tipping the title guy is SOP. I was surprised by the idea, but my very frugal attorney suggested it in no uncertain terms.

Posted by: Iris at July 17, 2009 5:18 PM in response to Tips at Closings?

First of all, it would have to be a condo. I don't think you can do a co-op with only two units. Second, if it's so non-conforming that it doesn't have a CO, you'd have to have concrete plans and a projected budget for obtaining one before any plan would be approved by the AG's office. (This takes months, btw, and does cost money in lawyer/architect/engineer/appraisor fees.) Third, selling the units might be difficult, in part because there are only two (as referenced in previous post), but also because of the CO problem and the general state of the economy these days.

Posted by: Iris at July 13, 2009 8:46 PM in response to Brownstone Conversion To Co-op

Think carefully before you call anyone about this situation. Given the lack of fire escapes alone, it may trigger a vacate order. I believe there's free legal advice to be had through Brooklyn Legal Services or possibly at Housing Court. Alternatively, if you know a good landlord/tenant lawyer, I'd talk to him/her.

Posted by: Iris at July 8, 2009 5:38 PM in response to Record of Change in C of O?

A permit is definitely required in this situation, and one should be posted on the front of your building somewhere. I've found the easiest way to check for permits/violations is through propertyshark.com. (You can get all the info you need from one of their free accounts.)

Regarding your question about 2 means of egress: access to the roof does not count. I'm not familiar with the requirements for a three-story house, but I can say with some certainty that there should be a fire escape. Other posters may have more information.

Posted by: Iris at July 8, 2009 9:11 AM in response to Record of Change in C of O?

I did extensive renovation work on a place in Manhattan using a contractor who was also a friend of mine. He was not licensed by DCA, and said the only advantage (for him) of being licensed was the added protection he'd get if he ever got sued. As Slick said, an unlicensed contractor can't enforce a contract.

Posted by: Iris at June 15, 2009 9:56 AM in response to Visit from Consumer Affairs

If they're making a nest in the ground, I don't think they're carpenter bees. In my experience, the carpenter bees only make nests in wood. There are differing opinions as to whether this is truly destructive or just annoying. Since they rarely sting, and they are pollinators, I was reluctant to kill them. (Also, since my house is well over a hundred years old and hasn't collapsed yet, I doubted they were doing any serious damage.) The best way I've found to discourage them is to paint the areas they like with oil-based paint. I did this a couple of years ago and there have been fewer and fewer each year. In fact, this year I seem to be down to one.

Posted by: Iris at May 27, 2009 10:22 AM in response to Carpenter Bee in my back yard

I agree with Crownlfc. If your LL is willing to let you use security as last month's rent, tell him you want a walk-through on the first day of that last month and have a letter written for him to sign saying that you won't owe him anything when the lease expires and that the apartment was in good condition (assuming it is). And take your own pictures on the day you leave.

Posted by: Iris at May 18, 2009 9:18 AM in response to Do I break my lease if....

Having a sprinkler system might eliminate the need for a second means of egress in a post-war "fireproof" building, mod squad, but certainly not in the kind of building the OP is living in. (In fact, in residential buildings, I think a second egress is required no matter what kind of building it is.)

I'd get another plumber to look at the system. And, if it really won't pass inspection in its current configuration, I'd get it fixed. Without an inspected and approved sprinkler system, no insurance will cover you if there's ever a fire.

Posted by: Iris at May 14, 2009 9:45 AM in response to Sprinkler system won't pass test

I don't know much about SCRIE, but if you're really interested in this house I'd talk to a lawyer--probably someone who specializes in elder law--before giving up on it. The key question, imho, is if signing a contract promising to move on a certain date violates a right she'd have to stay if protected by SCRIE. Generally a contract that dilutes or eliminates the protections people have by law is unenforceable.

Posted by: Iris at April 23, 2009 9:50 AM in response to Buying house w/ low-rent tenan

I repeat: go to the LMLT Housing Clinic next week.

Posted by: Iris at April 16, 2009 6:16 PM in response to Effect of Not Paying Rent?

Before you take up any of these ideas, I'd head to the Lower Manhattan Loft Tenants Housing Clinic. They've been helping people with all kinds of loft problems for more than 20 years. The Housing Clinic meets on Wednesday evenings, 6 to 7 p.m., in the Ceramics Room of St. Margaret's House, 49 Fulton Street (at the corner of Water Street).

Posted by: Iris at April 16, 2009 10:20 AM in response to Effect of Not Paying Rent?

I wouldn't do it, mainly because of insurance liability. Without a CofO, it's impossible to get insurance. Modsquad's post is correct about loft conversions, but that was part of a state law to legalize industrial/commercial buildings as residences while tenants remained in place. There is no such law (that I know of) for single or multi-family homes. If you must do this, I'd talk to a lawyer first.

Posted by: Iris at April 14, 2009 10:27 AM in response to Is there a temporary C of O?

Good steps, Ditmas. But just a warning.... Based on what you said in your original post (and my past experience), Boards are very resistent to pursuing the true resolution to this problem, which would be to either cancel your neighbor's tenancy or require them to soundproof. Don't be falsely assuaged by the Board president's willingness to experience your problem, and if anyone complains about the police coming at 3 a.m. a couple of times, point out that this could've been avoided if the Board had taken action. When you do speak to an attorney, you should also make sure to mention that you weren't informed about this problem before you purchased your shares and moved in. I wish you luck.

Posted by: Iris at April 3, 2009 1:29 PM in response to Noisy Neigbors

I lived under terribly noisy and destructive neighbors for years and years, and, like your situation, the co-op board refused to help. In fact, after I hired an attorney to write a few letters to the board, they seemed even more reluctant to do anything and I was perceived as a troublemaker. I do think you need to get an attorney involved however, and you probably should stop paying your maintenance until the situation is resolved. (Even though my attorney advised I stop paying, I didn't. It was a very gossipy building and I didn't want to encourage every shareholder to brand me as a troublemaker.)

You should also know that all your letters and communications with the Board will also be on record if you decide to sell and move. It will scare your buyers. In my case, I got lucky and the people upstairs sold before I did, otherwise it would've been a nightmare--and that was when the market was good.

Start calling the police and get a lawyer. Filming might be a good idea, but I'd want advice from an attorney before I started doing that.

Posted by: Iris at April 3, 2009 10:02 AM in response to Noisy Neigbors

Before you get involved with DOB/architects, etc., I'd talk to the co-op board. Depending on how strict the Board is, they might never let you put in a second kitchen and/or divide the space into two lofts. I'm not an architect or a contractor, but was very involved in loft legalization a while back. And not to add to your problems, but dividing the loft might well create a second-means-of-egress problem (fire escape). My recommendation would be to move into the space as-is and not complicate either your parents' lives or your own.

Posted by: Iris at March 25, 2009 2:31 PM in response to Two kitchens

You haven't said whether this loft is in a co-op, condo or rental building. Each of these possibilities will present other complications for your project.

Posted by: Iris at March 25, 2009 9:39 AM in response to Two kitchens

I disagree, mod squad. The OP terminated the remainder of the lease because the daughter had been constructively evicted. Additionally, since all the daughter's stuff is there, it's pretty clear that the verbal agreement for daughter to live in the apartment until the lease expired was established. Charging $12/day for storage might not be exorbitant, but it appears that the other roommate created the situation where there's a need for storage and now seeks to profit from it. So yes, they are holding the OP's stuff hostage.

Posted by: Iris at March 11, 2009 5:36 PM in response to roomate changed locks

First of all, what a terrible story. My suggestion would be to file a small claims court case for the security and whatever extra rent was paid (like the last month). As part of this action, I would add the pro-rated amount of rent for the days between February 23-28, because that is when your daughter was, as the law says, constructively evicted from this apartment. This case would be filed against the roommate and her mother, because they would be the ones who'd collect the security when the lease expires. I might or might not send them another letter to say that you won't be paying the $12/day in storage. Since your daughter was constructively evicted by these people, they do not have the right to set the terms for storing your daughter's things. Oh, and I'd also add any and all incidental expenses you and your daughter had to pay because of this incident. Hotel/motel bills, the certified letters.

It might be worth a consultation with a lawyer before filing this suit, depending on how much money is involved.

Also, make sure you take the police with you when you go back on the 16th. And, though I know it will be hard, take your time and go through all the stuff to make sure it isn't damaged.

Posted by: Iris at March 11, 2009 9:42 AM in response to roomate changed locks

I'm confused. You're subletting a church? An apartment in a church? Be that as it may, a security deposit is for future damages, not to hold a place. If you called it a security deposit when you took the money, you were wrong and definitely should return it.

Posted by: Iris at March 9, 2009 7:07 PM in response to Security Deposit

I recommend Schoolhouse Electric. You can order online at schoolhouseelectric.com, but they also have a shop in Tribeca on Vestry Street, just west of Hudson.

Posted by: Iris at February 16, 2009 10:17 AM in response to Historic-ish lighting Not $$$$$?

It's normal.

Posted by: Iris at February 16, 2009 10:13 AM in response to double sink- double trap?

I'm not trying to be snarky, but if the door chain is the only part of the building you notice that shakes, I'd think the cause would be a draft. Do you hear other things rattling--dishes, pictures hung on the wall--when this happens? I used to live in a very, very old brick loft building that shook when trucks went by. It was no big deal. If you're the only one who feels it, I'd suggest it's nothing to worry about.

Posted by: Iris at February 13, 2009 10:21 AM in response to My co-op building is shaking

I once lived in a coop building that had a similar bright idea. Based on that experience (and reading between the lines of your post), I'm wondering if the Board members are among the group of tenants who don't want to raise their ceiling, but would like their maintenance costs reduced because they'll have fewer shares than those that do. Both Ringo and BH76 have good suggestions about how to frame an argument against this ridiculous idea. Good luck.

Posted by: Iris at February 5, 2009 10:13 AM in response to Issue for our Co-op Board

If you really want to save for your kitchen reno, don't do granite. Go to Home Depot and buy one of those pre-made laminate slabs. Unless, of course, you think you'll use those granite scraps in the reno...

Posted by: Iris at February 3, 2009 11:09 AM in response to granite countertop scraps: where

Ah, another thread about rent regulation...another batch of stories about tenants who make lots of money and live in rent regulated apartments. Funny, though, how in all these threads--and in the press and at public hearings--there is never, never, never a landlord who opens the books so we can all see the bottom line. The point is that landlords love to complain as much as tenants (big surprise), but if they were all going broke DHCR would be flooded with "hardship" claims for rent increases.

And before we get to the argument of fair-market tenants supporting rent-regulated tenants, try to remember that landlords set fair-market rents to make the most money they can, not because they need a subsidy.

Posted by: Iris at February 3, 2009 11:01 AM in response to Democratic Assembly Passes Pro-Tenant Legislation

Don't worry. You'll forget all about the potential of lost light or facing a brick wall after you live through the construction noise....

Posted by: Iris at January 30, 2009 10:13 AM in response to Buying Across from Empty Lot

I don't know if you can rely on the water heaters in the appliances to make the water hot enough. My dishwasher has a water-heating element too (I think they all do), but the installation instructions clearly stated that it had to be hooked up to a hot water line, and even specified what temperature the hot water flowing into it should be.

Posted by: Iris at January 23, 2009 9:52 AM in response to Tankless water heaters

Well, Brownstoner, you could start putting up some picks that are slightly more affordable. Last time I asked about this you replied that there was a problem getting addresses. I don't know. I've gone to broker websites and had no problems getting the addresses of all kinds of houses priced under $1M.

Posted by: Iris at January 16, 2009 1:58 PM in response to Open House Picks

Just a couple of other thoughts. Read your proprietary lease. Altering your space without Board approval will most likely be a violation of that, in which case the Board could make you remove the walls. Also, probably the biggest reason why the Board will insist on permits is so that there won't be future disputes with other tenants who want to make alterations.

Posted by: Iris at January 13, 2009 9:10 AM in response to Building a 2nd room (frm a jr-4)

I believe one of the reasons permits would be insisted on is cause of the situation with the firemen who died while fighting a fire in a building that had been chopped up into little cubicles. The landlord of the building and the tenant who created all the cubicles are both on trial for this. Granted, that was an exceptional event, but it indicates why you'll need a permit.

Posted by: Iris at January 12, 2009 8:54 AM in response to Building a 2nd room (frm a jr-4)

I'd always go for the loft; I lived in one for 20-odd years. But I disagree with traditionalmod about the thick floors and noise reduction. Virtually every loft I've ever been in had really bad noise problems, cause the floors aren't thick. Well-supported to hold all sorts of heavy stuff, yes, but not thick at all. In fact, in the loft I lived in, my ceiling was the floor for the unit above.

Posted by: Iris at January 12, 2009 8:39 AM in response to which one: loft or high rise

The first place I bought was a 100+-year-old vacation cottage that needed a ton of work I couldn't afford. (In fact, twenty years later, I'm still doing some of this work.) When I describe the experience to people, I often joke: "The first year you own it, every time you leave the house you worry that there will just be a hole in the ground when you return. The second year, you hope that there will just be a hole in the ground when you return. But by the third year, you settle down."

Posted by: Iris at January 6, 2009 9:30 AM in response to First Time Homeowner Anxiety

I live in a drafty Victorian with an open staircase. To keep more of the heat downstairs where I need it, I've hung a curtain along the banister side. Not the most attractive solution, I know, but it does work. I've also invested in an EdenPure ceramic space heater. It's pricey--around $300--but it heats small spaces very well and can be placed just about anywhere, since the unit itself doesn't get hot. It may not be the ideal way to balance a heating system, but it might be cheaper (and more pleasant for the other owners) to buy the parlor floor tenant one of those.

Posted by: Iris at December 19, 2008 10:06 AM in response to Cold Apartment

As a tenant in a single-family home, none of the multiple dwelling laws apply to your situation. Therefore, it is totally irrelevant whether the landlord wants to occupy the place him/herself or rent it to another tenant. What is relevant is whether or not you have a lease or are considered a month-to-month tenant. If you have a lease that the landlord wants to break by getting you to vacate before the end of the term, then some form of buyout would be appropriate. (But don't be greedy: the landlord could just wait until your lease expires. If you haven't moved by then, you'd become a 'holdover,' and would be evicted in a housing court proceeding.) If you're a month-to-month tenant, the landlord must provide at least 30 days of written notice that he/she wants you to vacate.

I spent many years counseling tenants at a free housing clinic, just to give you my bona fides.

Posted by: Iris at December 17, 2008 9:37 AM in response to Eviction

Have you read your proprietary lease? There might be something in there that describes who would pay for what if the lot line windows needed to be sealed.

Posted by: Iris at December 8, 2008 9:58 AM in response to Lot Line Windows Being Sealed!

I couldn't have said it better, 364house.

It wouldn't surprise me, blizzard, if your research determines that your apartment was created illegally. And though you may feel that the landlord has been very good to you, renting you an apartment which does not meet the minimum fire safety standard is not very good.

Posted by: Iris at December 8, 2008 9:54 AM in response to fire escape question

I disagree, Bklyn Fire Alarm Guy. Landlords cannot collect rent for units without CofOs. I agree that if a rent strike leads to housing court, there may be some charge for use and occupancy, but that has nothing to do with the DOB. If the apartment and/or building is not legal for residential use, you would absolutely have the right to break any residential lease that you signed.

OP: You haven't provided enough info. Are there other residential units in the building? If so, I'd ask other tenants for their input on this situation.

Posted by: Iris at December 8, 2008 9:35 AM in response to How do I determine if my apartment is a legal residence?

FIOS installation seemed to be a lot more complicated than cable; there's a lot of hardware for one thing, at least out here in the burbs. A fairly large box was mounted to the outside of the house, a smaller box is attached to the wall inside. In addition to this, there's a regular-looking cable box, and a router for phone and internet. Because I run a Mac, some experimentation was needed to sync up with my with my Aiport, but the installer was great. Whole process took about three hours. Only problem I've had in the past year has been with my phone, which goes out from time to time. (I'm not sure, though, that this is actually a FIOS problem, cause I get my VOIP through Vonage.) The TV picture is spectacular, and a big improvement from cable. Internet is also very fast, and consistently fast, unlike my old cable connection.

Posted by: Iris at December 2, 2008 1:26 PM in response to Cable Provider: Time Warner or Direct TV

Out here in NJ, Cablevision made me miss TW. Service was simply awful, with TV picture going out at least two or three times a week, extremely slow internet access and terrible customer service. As soon as FIOS became available I switched, and am very glad I did.

Posted by: Iris at December 2, 2008 10:48 AM in response to Cable Provider: Time Warner or Direct TV

I really had no interest in arguing with you, fexleycb, and now I worry that my tone may have made you even more determined to acquire a turtle for your backyard. So please, if you do acquire one, try to ensure that it was hand-raised and not taken from the wild.

Posted by: Iris at October 31, 2008 10:04 AM in response to Backyard Turtle

This from the first google hit, from Davidson college: "Eastern box turtles are amazingly versatile animals and inhabit a wide variety of habitats from wooded swamps to dry, grassy fields. Although these turtles can live in a variety of different habitats, they are most abundant and healthy in moist forested areas with plenty of underbrush. Although not aquatic, box turtles will often venture into shallow water at the edge of ponds or streams or in puddles. Box turtles do not travel far, usually living within an area less than 200m in diameter. In cold climates they hibernate through the winter in loose soil at a depth of up to two feet."

And this from the third google hit: "Box turtles can live for more than 120 years in the wild. They live the longest of all North American Wildlife. They will also live their entire lives in a relatively small patch of woods no larger than a football field.... If the turtle was purchased at a pet store, then more than likely it was a wild caught turtle collected for the pet trade - a sad thing indeed. Always try to buy captive bred turtles. There's a 95% chance they will be healthy. They will do much better in captivity than a turtle that has lived most of it's life in the wild and now has to adapt to captivity. Wild caught turtles also go through stressful shipping and are usually transferred in over packed containers in filthy conditions. Many die from this alone."

I only omitted info from the second link because it didn't mention space requirements. Is your back yard even a quarter the size of football field, fexleycb? (That would be roughly 75x75 feet.)

And I was trying to be helpful in my earlier post. But you did admit that your research indicated it wasn't a good idea, and my two minutes of research convinced me that it's even a worse idea than I thought it was when I was "mean" to you. I'm sorry I can't tell you what you want to hear.

Posted by: Iris at October 30, 2008 1:21 AM in response to Backyard Turtle

So, you've done some research and discovered it might not be a great idea, but you're asking for opinions here because...? You also say that you know there are people in Brooklyn who've kept them for many years, and my question then would be how you know this, since you don't seem to know any of them personally. I know I'm probably sounding overly harsh to you, but there is really no reason or justification, imho, for introducing a turtle to what is probably a fairly tiny Brooklyn back yard. Try to bear in mind that I grew up in a very rural area with lots of turtles; we had a three-acre back yard. Every spring we'd paint an initial on the shells of the turtles we found out there, but we never seemed to see the same turtle twice.

There are plenty of cats and dogs up for adoption. Nothing wrong with a traditional pet.... Just sayin'.

Posted by: Iris at October 29, 2008 8:51 PM in response to Backyard Turtle

Fill tub with enough hot water to cover blinds. Add some dishwasher detergent and a little ammonia. Let the blinds sit for a while, then run a sponge over them. Empty tub and refill to rinse.

Posted by: Iris at October 27, 2008 10:08 AM in response to Venetian Blinds

11217 + Biff Champion:

You're tied for the most posts on this thread!

Posted by: Iris at October 13, 2008 6:10 PM in response to House of the Day: 448 6th Street

"Sedition" polemicist? Really? When the expression of a political position in the USA "borders on sedition," then the country really is in trouble. Ah, but I guess you're a Republican, and would therefore like to see things simply continue as they are.

Posted by: Iris at October 13, 2008 5:55 PM in response to Quote of the Day

It now sounds like you have warranty of habitability issues. Glad you're speaking to attorney. Make sure it's someone who does a lot of landlord/tenant work, cause the CofO problem combined with this will make things tricky.

BTW, if you'd posted that you had no heat/hot water, and that the landlord wasn't responsive, I would've told you not to pay rent and also to see an attorney.

Posted by: Iris at October 6, 2008 10:24 AM in response to Tenant in building with no C of O

Well, aren't you helpful Putnam and bohuma. Not only did you not answer the poster's question, but you were snarky about it. I suppose neither of you have ever asked a question that someone else considered stupid.

OP:As cinnybuns suggested, find out if your building has a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. If it does, it is perfectly legal for the landlord to move tenants in and collect rent from them. I would also suggest that you read your lease. There may be a clause in there that addresses this situation.

Posted by: Iris at October 3, 2008 9:58 AM in response to Tenant in building with no C of O

*rob* sounds like you would do the same to your friends?

Posted by: joe_the_bummer at November 4, 2009 3:30 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

That was my guess, CG_ups. First and last month's, plus $400 for something.

Posted by: CarrollGardened at November 4, 2009 3:30 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

$400 is for chips and margarita mix, but, sadly, not the tequila.

Posted by: antidope at November 4, 2009 3:35 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

he made us pay "1 month rent + $500" as a security deposit. so he has actually $4800 of our money if you want me to be specific.

last year he said i could have a copy of the lease if i wanted, and so i said ok i would like one. then anytime i'd ask him to pony it up, he would say he didn't know where it was. (we have a lot of shelves/common space in our loft and much of it is cluttered with his shit, so he would just motion toward the shared office area and say "it's in there somewhere".) i finally just rifled through some of the shelves one day, and found it in an envelope marked "lease."

the day that i saw the rent check, he had left it on the kitchen table and ran out to get stamps or something (to mail it to the LL). since we all have office jobs, and he quit his (since he has like no expenses) i assume he didn't realize i was home sick that day and that i saw it when i woke up.

this has become insane. i was just wondering if we had recourse to take over the lease since he pretty much moved out so long ago. guess not. thanks to those of you who are understanding of how stressful it is to live with a greedy sociopath.

Posted by: mightierthanswords at November 4, 2009 3:49 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

main reason that we don't all pack up and leave is that he has $5000 in security deposit money from us that i know he will try and find any way not to return.

You were never getting that money back from John. You think a guy who's done this to you won't find some pretext to keep more of your money?

If I've got this right, when you moved in he told you the rent was $3500 per month and it would be split equally? Or he told you you paid 1/5 of the rent, which was $700 (same difference).

Well, then, since the rent was only $3000, that means you were overpaying your agreed-upon share by $175 per month before the new roommate moved in. And since the new roommate moved in, you've been overpaying by $200.

So, stop paying him.

I'd tell him that since there is a new roommate, you will be paying 1/6 of the $3,000 rent from this point forward ($500 a month), and that he should take the first however many months out of your security deposit, and the next however many months out of your overpayments to date. If he comes back at you, don't negotiate, don't explain, don't discuss, this is just how it is. Give him a lot of "I'm so sorry you feel that way. I felt pretty terrible when I found out I'd been overpaying for so many months." And then just say nothing.

He mis-represented the terms of a contract that is probably unenforceable anyway. It doesn't matter how you found out he was lying. Blah blah blah, don't get sucked into his drama. Just, these are your terms. And if he gets all "and if I don't accept your terms," just say "I'm sorry." And hang up. It's not your job to solve his problem of not liking the fact you'll be paying him less, and only start paying him again after your overpayments/security have brought you back to an even balance.

Tell your roommates you are doing this, as an FYI. If they want to do it, too, be supportive of them. But do this with or without them. But be clear that this is between you and John, it's John's name on the lease, it's HIS problem (not theirs) to find the money to pay.

He will undoubtedly try to get you out of there. But odds are, he would have tried to get you out of there anyway since you're the pesky troublemaker who exposed his scam.

Remove all your valuables from the apartment NOW. Put some clothes at a friend's house where you could crash for awhile if he changes the locks. Make sure none of the utilities, etc are in your name. Have a plan for what to do if you come home to find the locks changed. Get all illegal substances out of your place (pot, whatever) in case he calls the cops. Change the password of all your accounts to something that's hard to hack.

And start looking for a new place. If this works out and he doesn't give you a hard time, once you've lived there long enough that all the overpayments are even, ask yourself if you want to live in this place for $500 a month, given the trust situation with John. If the answer is no, start looking for a new place.

But under no circumstances does John get any more of your money until the balance comes even.

Posted by: bkrules at November 4, 2009 3:50 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

I think the issue is black and white. You all agreed to pay what he was asking. It doesn't matter what he is/was paying.

If I felt an item is worth $100 and I buy it for $100, do I have the right to to get my money back if I found out someone else bought it for $20? No.

I still agree that "John" is a douche... AND he is the one who has his credit at risk here. If you want to stick it to him, you have the option.

Posted by: mrkknox at November 4, 2009 3:55 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

oh whatever. John gave you and your broke a$$ friends a place to live, for cheap i might add, and he threw in chips and salsa. you sound like a whiney brat. you have no recourse. Judge Judy would rip you a new one if you were in her court.

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at November 4, 2009 4:06 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

If he made you pay more than a month for security then that is most certainly "business" and not "friendship". That should have been a big tip-off as to the kind of relationship you were getting into when dealing with him.

I was friendly with a former landlord before renting from her. When I agreed to take her apartment she suddenly asked me for 2 months security deposit. I was a little taken aback by the request but still gave it to her. I also quickly downgraded our relationship from friend to business- a very good call. Particularly over a year later when she casually mentioned that it was "cheeky and resourceful" of her to ask for 2 months security because she really needed the cashflow at the time. Now a friend might have been rather annoyed by such a statement. However, somebody who did "business" with her chalked one up for experience and moved on.

And please do not take bkrule's advice unless you are looking for a shit ton of drama. If you are so unhappy with the arrangement and civilized behavior and dialogue isn't creating a satisfying resolution for you then you really should just move on. It's not worth the negativity, especially when you have to live in it.

I will add that I do think John is a douche, too, but that has nothing to do with the arrangement you made with him.

Posted by: Snarkypants at November 4, 2009 4:07 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

Also Post your question on www.tenant.net in the forum section.

Posted by: 1910 at November 4, 2009 4:19 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue

Try preemptively paying the rent one month directly to the LL. Entice him with cash if needed and get a signed receipt. This will complicate the situation and give you rights to the existing Lease in that the LL has tacitly approved your tenancy by excepting the rent. I think you would be protected from an eviction proceeding by uberTenant. You could also stop paying rent and probably continue to occupy the space for enough months to break even on your security.

Posted by: modsquad at November 4, 2009 5:02 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue