Cortlandt Manor, NY asked in Contracts, Real Estate Law, Arbitration / Mediation Law and Land Use & Zoning for New York

Q: I bought a house with a "friend", realizing too late I've been manipulated. Can I "break" our agreement?

I should have gotten a lawyer to represent my interests at the time, but our co-homeowner agreement seems very lopsided now. I don't want to sell or take on another mortgage, but I need some kind of relief from the onerous conditions she keeps imposing. These include limiting my privacy, personal space, & autonomy in my own home, sharing a very small house with her rotating guests & tenants. It feels like a violation of my civil rights. Thank you for your thoughts.

3 Lawyer Answers
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
Answered
  • Arbitration & Mediation Lawyer
  • Little Neck, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: One option as a starting point could be to arrange a consult with an attorney to review the agreement. Without seeing that, it could be difficult for an attorney to advise meaningfully, solely based on general principles of contract law. Good luck

Tim Akpinar

1 user found this answer helpful

Michael David Siegel
Michael David Siegel
Answered
  • Real Estate Law Lawyer
  • New York, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: It depends on whether you are on the deed or mortgage. I am unclear of the "format" of your agreement.

1 user found this answer helpful

Elaine Shay
PREMIUM
Elaine Shay
Answered
  • Real Estate Law Lawyer
  • New York, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: If you are both named on the deed, you would be able to commence a partition action to force a sale of the property to free yourself from the situation.

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