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!
solution;
Get one of those combination type door locks and change the combination on a regular basis. If there are that many losers, misfits, miscreants and malefactors entering the building , this guy must be living some kind of oddball life style with transient friends, these lowlifes certainly don’t have the brain power or the inclination to remember the combination so easily. Especially if it is changed on a regular basis, say, every 6 months.
unfortunately, bklyn butler probably just nailed it. ouch. That 32 year old daughter is sitting pretty; locked into a RC apartment occupied since 1960 (i bet the rent is way south of 700 a month) no wonder she isn’t working > she won’t really have to!
Forget about the RE lawyer. All they can do is charge you for nothing. But a private investigator could be useful if you think there is illegal activity going on. If not, then just learn to live with it and build those partitions to close yourself off from the tenant. Sounds like the daughter will iherit the apartment so they will probably be there after you’re gone.
Whoa, the 32-year old daughter lives with them? Isn’t there something in the rent-control law that states a lease can be passed to a relative that lives with the original tenant? Could that be what they’re going for here?
good luck, longstreet. It’s a really difficult situation and only a good RE lawyer can tell you what will or won’t work in your favor. And even then its a crapshoot depending on the judge. You might be able to do better with a mediator.
I know there are laws you certainly can’t break- but there are also some an rc tenant is not allowed to break either. Hope it all works out for you.
OP: sorry, no sympathy from me at this point. You claim to be worried about security, but it hasn’t been worth the investment for YOU to secure your front doors? You don’t have to replace your front doors to put a lock on them. Attend to your obligations as owner/landlord.
And, I just don’t understand the hostility. Some of you are very angry!
OP here, I was just looking for suggestions that perhaps I didn’t think of yet, not whining, searching! Everyone has valid points to share, thanks.
Some finer points, just to make sure the horse is dead.
Yes, my property and their home, I get it, no problem.
4-family house. 4 apartments. I am the first owner to live in the building since 1940. It was a mess and I got a good price.
I have one RC tenant, here since 1960, one current market rate tenant, I occupy two floors.
In Brooklyn since 1976, owner of this house since 2006, so yes, not long.
I “did install USPS-approved mailboxes†for everyone. I did not keep copies of the tenants keys, I believe that would work against me.
I “did install an intercom system†on all four floors, but no door buzzer.
I “have built partitions†and I don’t really have to see them.
The front door does not have a lock. We are planning to replace the doors but you all know how expensive that can be, its on the list.
I am familiar with the “keykeeper†and will probably do that when I get new front doors.
I was trying to give the dude his props for surviving, I didn’t have a problem with that when I bought the building. He’s the one with the new attitude not me.
He raised his family here, his wife lives with him as does his 32 year old daughter. The daughter flies under the radar and there is no public record of her association with this house, believe it or not. We looked. She does not have a job. He is retired. They almost never leave the building.
He has all the rights entitled to him as a RC tenant, I acknowledge that and he is entitled to that.
We have not been able to find a copy of his lease in any of the NYC housing records.
He is old school and totally unreasonable with an attitude to match, being nice and civil simply does not work.
Yes, “it is a very complicated situation and asking for input is not whining.â€
Correct, I am too nice and “cannot separate the business end of ownership†from the, my castle, my rules! I am trying to learn and I am learning the law is not in my favor and I am trying to engage one battle at a time, flying keys + strangers this week.
I know “there are still certain no-nos even a rent controlled tenant can’t doâ€, but their is a legal line I cannot cross with this particular individual. I need to be careful but I’m not ready to concede while I still have hope in finding more ammo under some rock somewhere.
Thanks to all the Bklyn’ers who took the time to respond.
As long as you are operating on a cash basis and your renters cooperate, you can charge whatever you want.
You can even say they are your “guest” or your relative. If the sub-tenant likes living there and is getting a deal, why should they blow the whistle?