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New York Landlord - Tenant Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Civil Litigation, Civil Rights and Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Is it legal to record one of my roommates in our shared room if she threatens mine and my other roommate's life in NY?

I currently live in a homeless shelter, there have been ongoing problems with a roommate to which I have brought up to management many times. Over this weekend well management was not there is she flipped out and started yelling at my other roommate and I and even threatened to murder us. I know... View More

Stephen Bilkis
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answered on Nov 30, 2024

I'm sorry to hear about the difficult and frightening situation you're experiencing. Your safety is important, and I hope the following information helps clarify your legal options.

In New York State, it is generally legal to record a conversation as long as one party consents to...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: What can I do if the locks were changed and all my possessions were thrown out?

I am a 67 years old disabled wheelchair bound senior citizen. I have lived at 35 Woodbine Street for 49 years. In June 2023 my brother gifted the house to his daughter for $1. On June 20 she sent me a text telling me I have 60 days to move out. On August 20th I text her back stating I needed more... View More

Roland Godfrey Ottley
Roland Godfrey Ottley
answered on Nov 23, 2024

This appears to be an illegal eviction and destruction of property, with several legal violations given your specific circumstances.

1. Illegal Self-Help Eviction

- Your niece's actions constitute an illegal "self-help" eviction by changing locks and removing...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: How may my wife take over our apartment lease if the current leaseholder isn’t renewing?

My brother is the current leaseholder of our Bronx residence. Due to prior financial difficulties, I have been subletting from him for over five years without formal authorization from the property owner, and this arrangement lacks written documentation. My wife and I have cohabited in the... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 30, 2024

Dear Bronx Tenant

Is this a Rent Stabilized apartment?

Does your brother also live in the same apartment with you and your wife?

If so, then your arrangement with your brother is not a sublease even if you pay rent to your brother.

If your brother is living in the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Im a lisensee at familys house been living there 10 plus years but they changed the door locks and i cant get in..
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 27, 2024

Dear Brooklyn Resident

Who defined your legal status as a Licensee?

If you are as you say then you may not have anti eviction protection like a tenant.

I wouldn't take your word for this.

Why not try to see if a Housing Court Judge in Kings County will...
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1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can I sue my CAP housing program for denying me an emotional support animal even though I have a mental disability?

My therapist was doing paperwork for one but the housing told me if I get an ESA I will get kicked out

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 27, 2024

Dear Catskill CAP Housing Tenant

I do not know what the basic pet ownership rules are for your Housing. An ESA is not a service animal. NY State has certain anti discrimination rules relat

ing to ESA animal companions that are more expansive than the Federal Rules.

I...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: 5-day late rent notice is undeliverable via certified mail (NY) - what other options do I have?

My family law attorney told me to seek help regarding this particular matter- it's outside the area of her expertise.

My mother, father, and grandmother (maternal) lived together for the last 30-ish years. My mom passed 3 years ago, and my father still has not moved out. The house is... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 24, 2024

Dear Albany Family Member:

You hire an attorney for your grandmother who knows how to do eviction proceedings.

The only obligation created by the Legislation relating to the five day letter is that it is mailed by certified mail to the tenant. There is no further obligation....
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: I have a case hearing at housing court for non-payment of rent for certain months which I have proofe

The judge will dismiss my case since I have the proof of payment...but sincec i received the court notice, I stopped my rent payment from March, 2024...so my concern is whether the landlord or his attorney has the authority to request the judge right away to issue another notice of non-payment... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 22, 2024

Dear Brooklyn Tenant:

First things first. I gather that your initial court date is looming, and you filed the Answer to the nonpayment petition around March/April 2024.

Since the landlord's attorney decided not to offer to discontinue the case when you answered that you paid...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: My partner is dealing with a landlord issue & I have some questions.

I sleep over at my girlfriend's house sometimes. Her lease says nothing about having guests coming over & I've been visiting for over 3 years. Recently, her landlord had an issue with me sleeping over even when she's been aware I've been coming over for years. I primarily... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 11, 2024

Dear Brooklyn Tenant

I responded to your issue on another online forum.

Your girlfriend's landlord does not have a lease provision for restricted overnight guests or even a two week visit.

But your girlfriend resides in a jurisdiction that has not embraced Good Cause...
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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights and Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: I live in Brooklyn. My girlfriend lives in Long Island. I sleep over her house sometimes. Her landlord has an issue.

I sleep over my girlfriends sometimes. Her lease says nothing about having guests coming over & I've been visiting for over 3 years. Recently, her landlord had an issue with me sleeping over even when she's been aware I've been coming over for years. I primarily live in Brooklyn... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 10, 2024

Dear Brooklyn Tenant

If you moved in permanently as a Roommate the landlord has no legal basis to complain.

But even without the landlord having a just cause to complain about your visiting overnight from time to time your girlfriend is the one who has to deal with a landlord who...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can a subletter be forced to pay for a whole months rent if asked by main tenant to leave before month is up in NYC?

I sublet a room in an apartment in NYC. The sublease was meant to be for a year but the main tenant decided it was not working out and asked me to vacate within 30 days. That will place my last day of occupation part way through next month. Can they charge me for the full rent next month if rent is... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 7, 2024

Dear Manhattan Roommate.

You are not a subtenant if you rent a room only. I gather that you had a written agreement for one year.

If so a verbal request for you to move out in thirty days had no legal effect on the one year rental agreement.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Legally what is the procedure to have a tenant of 10 yrs to leave the rental?
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 5, 2024

Dear Newburgh Property Owner:

What is the landlord's procedure for a tenant of 10 years to leave the rental?

It is far more difficult now than before your city adopted Good Cause Eviction....
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: I live in NYC. Is it legal to retroactively charge a resident an increased percentage?

My rent was never increased for years and now an arrears team is trying to clean up their financials and wants to retroactively charge me 3 years of increases. It is their personal error how can they be allowed to do that?

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 5, 2024

Dear Brooklyn Tenant:

Generally, no. Since you paid rent as billed by the landlord, you could raise it as a defense accord and satisfaction, payment, waiver, and other affirmative defenses if sued for the rent.

Meanwhile, I suggest you now show your documents to a lawyer for analysis.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Early lease termination / Lease break

Our rental lease ends June 2025 and we want to negotiate an early lease termination with our current landlord.

We want to move as my wife gave birth to multiples and with a toddler already the 2 bedroom is too small and challenging. I‘m afraid that postpartum my wife could be to stressed... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 3, 2024

Dear Manhattan Tenant:

You avoided a colossal error. Since 2019, New York State tenants breaching a lease and leaving an apartment with money owed on a lease without a release from the landlord can sit back and wait for the landlord to rent the apartment again before even confronting the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Do I have a case against my former landlord since the property burned out and he claimed what I owned and got paid
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Sep 19, 2024

A landlord-tenant attorney should advise here, but your question remains open for over a week. It looks like could have been some sort of mix-up here. This might be related to which insurance policies handled the loss, your renter policy or a policy related to the building. In either case, the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Hello, me and my girlfriend need advice of how to handle this when we go to eviction court in a couple days ?

So they want $4,265 for the rent we have no paid, and for us to vacate the property. But the reason we have not been paying is because of us failing to get 2 carbon monoxide alarms they we still havent got for 6 months . And i have evidence of us asking them, our smoke alarms dont work, there is... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 15, 2024

Dear Troy Tenant:

It would help your defense based on breach of the statutory warranty of habitability and breach of lease (failure of the landlord to comply with rules, codes, and regulations affecting habitability) if you had Code Enforcement write the violations for no smoke and CO...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can you explain what a (421-a) and a (J-51) is. There is a rent lock situation going on and im trying to get them lifted
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 6, 2024

Dear New York Apartment Building Investor:

This may surprise you, but there is no proper way to purchase an apartment building in NYC, let alone evaluate the property, without an attorney.

Both J-51 and 421-a are examples of long-term run 'with the land' real property tax...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can my landlord tell me to leave a month before lease ends because of issues with them trying to sell the property?

Nov 1st 2023 I have a 1yr lease agreement on a house that my landlord is now trying to sell. May 30th 2024 landlord stated he found a buyer and signed with them but didnt have an official closing date but told us house will be closed sometime before the end June and we should be gone by July.... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 6, 2024

Dear Queens Tenant:

The truth is that unless the lease allows the landlord a right to early termination, you do not need to accommodate the owner's house sale. Even a properly ended lease in New York does not require the tenant to move out voluntarily. The tenant could wait it out and...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: I'm trying to evict my girlfriend of 13 years from my home that is mine but she will not leave i live in n y
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 5, 2024

Any legal eviction in New York State requires an initial inquiry about the relationship of the Petitioner (the party initiating the lawsuit similar to the Plaintiff) and the Respondent (the other party, who may be either a tenant or a licensee). The paths to getting into court are different.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Yes my question is how can I evict my girlfriend of 13 years from my home i live in niagara falls new york i tried to
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 5, 2024

If your relationship with your live-in 'ex' fits a category of landlord/tenant or landlord/not tenant relationship, there is a form of summary proceeding available to use. Perhaps a holdover tenancy termination summary proceeding or a holdover Licensee holdover summary proceeding.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can my landlord shut off my hot water because I owe two months rent
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 5, 2024

If your landlord does so, that is a crime, and you could call the police.

'....engaging in a course of conduct which interferes with or is intended to interfere with or disturb the comfort, repose, peace or quiet of such occupant in the use or occupancy of the dwelling unit, to induce...
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