Q: Who's really responsible?
There are two separate issues here. I will try not to confuse them.
I went to work for someone that paid for my apartment. I relocated. On his own, without my knowledge, he signed a one-year lease on said apartment. $1075.00 per month, 12 months. My name was written as sublease (without my knowledge).
This person and I had no written agreement concerning our work relationship. Verbally he asked me to help him turn his event/venue space into a full-service restaurant. I agreed to help and made the relocation. 6 weeks into my work he decided to stop the idea of becoming a restaurant and remain an event venue solely. In turn I decided not to continue our work relationship.
He paid me $500 a week in cash, and paid the rent. Upon the relationship ending he decided not to pay the rent. Obviously, the landlord is not happy about this. We (landlord and I) offered him to pay the November 2022 rent and he would be removed from the lease. He declined.
I never asked him to sign a lease.
A:
Dear Manhattan Tenant:
Generally, a sublease is subject to the main lease, primary lease, or to the over lease. Generally, in New York State, a sublease requires advance written permission from the landlord. Generally, a sublease is signed by the tenant and the subtenant, the signatures are notarized and acknowledged in the same manner as a deed.
"...and (vii) a copy of the proposed sublease, to which a copy of the tenant's lease shall be attached if available, acknowledged by the tenant and proposed subtenant as being a
true copy of such sublease..." [https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/RPP/226-B].
Based on your statement of transactions and facts, you are not a subtenant, there is no sublease.
Based upon your statement of transactions and facts, your legal status if you have a legal status, at all, is nothing more significant than a mere occupant. You did not pay rent to the tenant, you are not a signatory to the main lease, and there is no sublease.
You are free to move out without strings attached. The tenant is free to "end" your right to occupy the apartment with a ten (10) day notice to quit. The tenant is free to allow the landlord to use a summary proceeding based on nonpayment of rent to recover legal possession of the apartment.
Jack Mevorach and Daniel Michael Luisi agree with this answer
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