Q: Do I have to sign a waiver for floor work to bring it up to city code in my apartment?
My landlord is trying to force my roommate and I to sign a waiver that says we must move and prep our apartment for construction but the weirdest part is we must sign it so the company isn’t liable if any of my things or my roommates things are broken or stolen.
Is this normal/ legal? Can I be evicted if I don’t sign?
A: I cannot think of an instance where you would be required to sign a waiver. One normally does so because it is preferable to the alternatives if it is not signed. At best, it should be open to negotiation and that is likely the real issue here - are whatever concessions the landlord is offering sufficient for you to go through the hassle and process? Are you on a month to month or a term lease? Unless conditions are so bad that the City proposes to red tag your dwelling and force you out, the landlord may not be legally able to force you to vacate and if you do, he likely owes you for doing so. Your duties, however, are somewhat subject to whatever your lease says. So if you really want to know your options and duties, take your lease and all communications with the landlord on the topic to a landlord-tenant attorney for a review. A single session will likely answer most or all of your questions. Good luck.
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