What scam is my landlord pulling?

My landlord is a huge liar. He’s never repaired anything without years worth of excuses (apparently his building is the only one that has such unique plumbing, etc that getting parts takes, without exaggerating, years). Recently he’s started ‘losing’ my rent checks, then I ask him if there’s a problem and write him a new one. If this happened once, I wouldn’t think twice, but now we’re up to three in about 7 months time. I don’t know his real address, I just drop the check in a makeshift mailbox in our lobby. His excuse is always “I’m moving, I must have misplaced it”, so either he’s lying or he’s moving a lot. Is he trying to get evidence to evict me from my rent stabilized apartment? I’m not too worried, all communication is via text or email, so all evidence can prove he’s a liar, but why would he be doing this? thanks

UnRed

in Landlord 11 years ago

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concord | 11 years ago

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You could also simply do this…since you indicate that you communicate via e-mail. “Dear Landlord, I am pleased to hear that you have found the rent checks for (address of your apartment) that you had misplaced (you may want to list the checks and months). I am just letting you know that today, per your instruction, I left the rent check for (month) in the mailbox at (address). It is check no.—- dated —— drawn on —– bank. See attached copy of check. Please make sure to pick-up the check. Alternatevely if you wish for me to mail you the check elsewhere please let me know.” This will create a record…as you communicate with him by e-mail.

UnRed | 11 years ago

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Thanks all. I think sending it certified to whatever address he’ll give me is what I should do from now on. I would rather not have to go to court to prove what a conniving liar he is.

cate | 11 years ago

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Plenty of landlords have refused to cash rent checks and later claimed the tenant didn’t pay and should therefore be evicted. The traditional way around that is to mail the rent check by certified mail.

mozeeatupu | 11 years ago

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What evidence could come out of not depositing checks in a timely manner? 3 late deposits in 1 year is nothing. If he intends to evict you, there will be plenty of notice ahead of time but this isn’t something you can be evicted over. However, if you aren’t the rightful tenant of the RS apartment, that’s a whole other thing.

deano | 11 years ago

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who knows what he’s up to, but anyone with a really cheap rent stabilized lease right now probably feels like they have a target on their back. if he’s dodging your rent, it’s not a good sign. one thing that may help a bit (though i am no lawyer) is to consider switching from handwritten checks to the checks sent out from your bank. the check gets mailed – address the check to him, at your building address, and if necessary you collect envelope from doormat and drop it in his mailbox. the drawback is that this way the money leaves your account immediately; even if he never banks them, it takes some long period of time for the check to ‘expire’ and the money to come back to you. the upside could/should be that it’s now much simpler to prove that you’re paying your rent regular like clockwork.