heliospan1676
Member
What is the name of your state? New York
This is kind of a long story so please stick with me.
In March, my friend and I decided to get an apartment. We qualified for a rent stabilized, low income housing apartment in Manhattan and signed the lease for it. I'm the primary person on the lease and she's secondary (listed as my cousin but that's not true). Unfortunately, since we both had to hand in tax information, W2 forms, job letters and all that, we are both equal on the lease. At the same time, her boyfriend needed to move, so he moved in and we split the rent in three. He's not on the lease though, primarily because he's an illegal immigrant.
About two weeks ago, he made a threat to me (not directly though, he told her and she told me). Basically, he told her he had intentions of physically harming me with a weapon. She got scared and came and told me about it. So I got scared and had a lock put on my bedroom door that very day she told me (I still have the recipt for it). That very night I asked him to leave the apartment (he's not on the lease) and gave him four days to leave but after the four days he was still there. I went to the police but since he can be considered her guest, it's not in their jurisdiction to do anything, even if he's an illegal alien. And the threat doesn't count since he never made it directly to me. But I still have text messages on my phone confirming that she told me about it and that I asked him to leave.
I went to the building managers and told them the story but didn't really mention that he lived there or that he's an illegal alien (cuz I'm a sucker and would feel bad if he got deported). Ultimately, they told me I'm binded to the apartment unless both me and my roommate want to leave.
I tell her that the best option for all of us, since she didn't want him to leave, would be for us to all leave the apartment and she agreed to that. On Monday, she told me that she wanted to leave the apartment by Oct 31 (in 2 months) and that we should draw up an agreement and sign it just to make it legal. She had most of her stuff already packed up and in the living room.
On Wednesday, I reconfirm the idea with her and she gives me the go-ahead to draw up the letter, which I do. That night I leave it with her, to look it over so we can discuss and sign it. Today, 2 days later (Friday), she tells me that she isn't going to leave anymore (she hadn't had a job since June and the boyfriend has been paying for everything). She says that it's too expensive to look for a new apartment, with deposits, broker's fees and first-months-rent due.
I, on the other hand, have found an apartment that I want to move to already (the lease has been prepared and I'm ready to sign off on it) but I am legally binded to this apartment. I'm wondering what recourse I have since:
1. Her boyfriend lives with us which is against the stipulations of the lease. We're supposed to be the only people living in the apartment and if anyone moves in they need to be registered with the management company.
2. Her boyfriend is an illegal immigrant
3. I'm worried about my safety in the apartment, I still have the receipt for the lock on my bedroom door and the text messages from her proving what she told me.
4. She went back on her verbal agreement that we would end the lease at the end of October.
5. Even though, the lease says we're related. We aren't.
One last thing, he bought a stereo and plays the music so loudly that we've received complaints about it (too many of which would be grounds for eviction).
Any help/advice would be GREATLY appreciated.
This is kind of a long story so please stick with me.
In March, my friend and I decided to get an apartment. We qualified for a rent stabilized, low income housing apartment in Manhattan and signed the lease for it. I'm the primary person on the lease and she's secondary (listed as my cousin but that's not true). Unfortunately, since we both had to hand in tax information, W2 forms, job letters and all that, we are both equal on the lease. At the same time, her boyfriend needed to move, so he moved in and we split the rent in three. He's not on the lease though, primarily because he's an illegal immigrant.
About two weeks ago, he made a threat to me (not directly though, he told her and she told me). Basically, he told her he had intentions of physically harming me with a weapon. She got scared and came and told me about it. So I got scared and had a lock put on my bedroom door that very day she told me (I still have the recipt for it). That very night I asked him to leave the apartment (he's not on the lease) and gave him four days to leave but after the four days he was still there. I went to the police but since he can be considered her guest, it's not in their jurisdiction to do anything, even if he's an illegal alien. And the threat doesn't count since he never made it directly to me. But I still have text messages on my phone confirming that she told me about it and that I asked him to leave.
I went to the building managers and told them the story but didn't really mention that he lived there or that he's an illegal alien (cuz I'm a sucker and would feel bad if he got deported). Ultimately, they told me I'm binded to the apartment unless both me and my roommate want to leave.
I tell her that the best option for all of us, since she didn't want him to leave, would be for us to all leave the apartment and she agreed to that. On Monday, she told me that she wanted to leave the apartment by Oct 31 (in 2 months) and that we should draw up an agreement and sign it just to make it legal. She had most of her stuff already packed up and in the living room.
On Wednesday, I reconfirm the idea with her and she gives me the go-ahead to draw up the letter, which I do. That night I leave it with her, to look it over so we can discuss and sign it. Today, 2 days later (Friday), she tells me that she isn't going to leave anymore (she hadn't had a job since June and the boyfriend has been paying for everything). She says that it's too expensive to look for a new apartment, with deposits, broker's fees and first-months-rent due.
I, on the other hand, have found an apartment that I want to move to already (the lease has been prepared and I'm ready to sign off on it) but I am legally binded to this apartment. I'm wondering what recourse I have since:
1. Her boyfriend lives with us which is against the stipulations of the lease. We're supposed to be the only people living in the apartment and if anyone moves in they need to be registered with the management company.
2. Her boyfriend is an illegal immigrant
3. I'm worried about my safety in the apartment, I still have the receipt for the lock on my bedroom door and the text messages from her proving what she told me.
4. She went back on her verbal agreement that we would end the lease at the end of October.
5. Even though, the lease says we're related. We aren't.
One last thing, he bought a stereo and plays the music so loudly that we've received complaints about it (too many of which would be grounds for eviction).
Any help/advice would be GREATLY appreciated.
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