Problem With RC Tenant
I own a house with a rent control tenant, yes I know, who thinks he can do whatever he wishes and does this…among other things! After discovering that he hands out, and has been handing out for years, front door keys to whomever he likes so he does not have to come down the one…
I own a house with a rent control tenant, yes I know, who thinks he can do whatever he wishes and does this…among other things! After discovering that he hands out, and has been handing out for years, front door keys to whomever he likes so he does not have to come down the one flight to let his people in. I changed the front door lock. You know, the lock with keys where you need a card that authorizes you to make a copy. I gave him two keys as required by law, thinking at least that not everyone had keys to my house. So now he puts one key in the mailbox and hands out copies of the mailbox key to who knows. After informing him about jeopardizing the security of the building, etc, etc, I was told “F†you! Not my problem! While I try to figure out how and who can help me get these people out of my house, can anyone suggest a way for me to short circuit this S.O.B. and protect my wife and kids and MY property from strangers in the hall.
Side note; Any housing lawyer recommendations would be appreciated as well. I have evidence, pictures and recordings as backup. Yes, its bad.
Thanks!
Longstreet, you are welcome. I wonder if these tenants are doing some minor drug trafficking. You may not recognize the signs as many people, at first, do not. Your tenants seem to have more “friends” than is average. These “friends” may be drug customers, and there are too many for the tenant to want to walk downstairs for. You will be in for an education as you research the signs of drug sales. Get in touch with some type of community help group that will detail these “signs” for you. Then you may be on your way to getting them out. I encountered this at a house where a relative lived.
I wonder what else your tenant is putting in the mailbox besides the keys; or doing some type of exchange, i.e. drugs, and/ or money. The tenant bad behavior and language may also be a sign. I wonder if he has always behaved that way.
This web site came up on Google, when I typed in “Nuisance
Abatement Guide” : http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7392374
You may be more successful in searching for a Brooklyn-specific site than I was. Going to the Courthouse or police station may yield you the information you need, such as a pamphlet for *recognizing drug use in neighborhoods*.
Thank you BklynSoFar for the resources, I will definitely tap into these. And thank you for a helpful and civil response.
Longstreet, here are the two books:
1. “Every Landlord’s Legal Guideâ€
by Marcia Stewart and Attorneys Ralf Warner and Janet Portman
2. “Nuisance Abatement Guide†by John H. Campbell
http://www.cdri.com
Go to Google, put in “Nuisance Abatement Guideâ€, and you will find many resources.
Excerpts from both of thise books are online by searching Google.
One thing I meant in the above comment is if you fix everything first it may weaken your case to get the people out. Given the situation, though, you may not be able to wait. Good luck !
Longstreet — I agree to keep diaries — it is called “contemporaneous†evidence, and I think admissible in court. I know you may be worn out already, but you may go for the “nuisance†factor.
There are many good landlord and tenant books, you can Google them. Try the ones that emphasize “nuisanceâ€. Just an idea, but because you are ultimately responsible for anything that goes on in your building, you may get the other tenants to support you because their safety in also in jeopardy. I’d get get the rc people out, if possible. Research the “nuisance†factors, use whatever you can, get these people out, then implement the other safety issues people have stated above. Build a case first, get the people out, then change your house – buzzers, doors, mailboxes, whatever you want.
I have a couple of specific books in mind but don’t have access to them right now. I can look for them then post again for you if you are still checking this thread.
Sam, if you cannot get her on tenant law, you can get her on taxes. Did she pay taxes from $575/month?
If you need to go the lawyer route, I’d recommend Susan Cornicello. She was recommended to me on a tenant/landlord issue, but the other party called her (and hired her) first. I’m on the other side now and I think she’s top notch.
the daughter definitely has rights to legal tenancy under rc law…just accept it and try to get along with the real issue , which is income and class disparity…
Oh yeah, and it does seem like the daughter is living there in hopes of keeping the apartment after the parents are gone. I don’t think she had to be on the lease to do that, but someone correct me if I am wrong. I’m pretty sure that if she shows that it was her principle residence for a certain number of years, that would be enough.
Have you every had serious trouble with any of these “hall people”? I rent and live on the top floor of a brownstone and I’ve been trying to get my (mostly very nice) landlord to put in a buzzer for years! If your tenants are older, it does not surprise me that they don’t want to run up and down the stairs. It’s not clear from your initial post if these tenants are doing anything illegal or if their friends are threatening in any way. You only bought this place a few years ago and you don’t like his attitude. Sound to me like you really want him out and you are simply trying to feel out if you have a case.