Breaking a lease.

[incalescentgas]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York

I'm currently living with two of my roommates in a privately owned building. There's 4 floors, with an apartment on each floor. Since we moved in we've been having EXTREME problems with our landlord. He's very militaristic in the way that he conducts everything. It's a very weird situation. He was in the navy for a few years, and in his mind he thinks he's a Captain. He even makes us call him that and gets really really pissed if we don't. We know that he's taking advantage of us because we're young females. He's deliberately screamed in our faces for various times with absolutely no justification behind them (ex: going on the roof when we were under the intention that we were allowed to, not walking our guests out of the building, hammering a nail into the wall at 8pm claiming we were going to "disturb people coming home from work"). He's also an alcoholic. He's very different around my parents, much more cordial, although still not all there. There's endless situations we've encountered with him already and we haven't even been there a month yet. It's not just us either, because we've talked to the guy who lives below us and he's had even more horrific stories with him.

We really want to get out of this situation because we feel threatened by him and we know that we've definitely been verbally abused on multiple occasions. What is the best way to go about getting out of here without any penalities against us?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[BL]

If he is harassing you , you can call the police .

You do not have to put up with the screaming at you .

You do not have to call him Captain .

You write him a letter ( RRR Certified mail ) ( keep copies and proof it was delivered/sent ) .

Advise the Landlord to communicate with you by written letter(s) of any issues .

Advise the landlord to follow the NY State Landlord tenant laws .

Your rental with the Landlord is a business issue , not a personal one .

That under the Laws you both have rights and responsibilities .

If the LL knocks on the door repeatedly , or otherwise starts yelling , do not open the door but rather , call the police ( 911) .

Advise him if he'd rather you tenants move , put it in writing letting you out of your lease ,and give you say a month to vacate .

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/bureaus/real_estate_finance/pdfs/tenants_rights_guide.pdf