Daughter rented ILLEGAL Apartment in private house

[btb726]

My daughter rented an apartment last year in Brooklyn, N.Y. which was in a private house. The apartment was the landlords basement. She rented this apt. through a real estate. The problem is that there was never a lock on her door to the apt. The owner had access anytime she wanted. My daughter had a separate entrance, but the door inside never had a lock.
The apt. was in very BAD condition that she was sick for the first 2 weeks with an upper-respiratory infection. There was VERY LITTLE HEAT or none at all.
The landlady had work done on her house & allowed the workers to trample through her apartment, so not to dirty hers upstairs. She had roofers in & they left the toilet seat up & left footprints on her bathroom mat.
Her apt. was also ransacked & jewelry & clothing were missing. A police report was taken. Also one night she lost all electricity right after the landlady went out with her son. The police were called & they said it was an illegal eviction maneuver. Gas & Electric were included in her rent as this was an illegal apt.

She found another apt. in July & moved out.
We contacted the real estate that she used & I asked how they could rent illegal apts. & the owners reply was that it was a friend of his mothers. We got her real estate fee back after my daughter signed a notarized letter that clears them from any further action. This right there proves her case that he rented this apt & the address rented to her.
There were never any rent receipts & the owner would only accept cash for the rent. This was to hewr benefit so the I.R.S. wouldn't find out.
Is there anything we can do to maybe get the 6 months rent back from this landlord from HELL??
Or how can I report her to the I.R.S. or any other agencies as she is still renting this apt. at this time. My daughter was not the first tenant & will not be the last.
We need your help

 

[djdj]

Look apartments are so scarce in new york city and now that oil and gas prices have skyrocketed most landlords cannot raise the rent that much or risk losing the good tenants they have....so having a 3rd Illegal apartment is what a lot do, in a 2 family house.

Well now your daughter is learning how to survive in the big city, something her probably expensive college education didnt teach her anything about.

Clue #1 electricty included in rent.....why because it would be Illegal to get a meter, it would violate the certificate of occupancy.

Clue #2 CASH only why? the IRS, and no record to prove to a Housing Court Judge how long she was living there

Clue #3 basement or attic or over a garage.

Also If it is found to be an Illegal 3 family you daughter would have rights to NOT pay the landlord any rent, although she cannot get any of the rent she paid back...the landlord would have to evict her in Supreme court which is very expensive and could take 6 months.....

So most landlords when they are caught....are actually offering to pay for the tenants moving expenses and returning the deposit so they wont sue......too bad she didnt stay.

And MOST importantly ......Why do brokers rent Illegal apartments?????

THEY ARE COMMISSION SALES PEOPLE, and when the kids needs braces, or clothes or tutition, or the house needs something commission salespeoples MORALS and ETHICS go into the TOILET!

You are one of the most luckiest people i have heard of in a long time, to actually get back your broker's fee, without a big court fight.

I hope that answers your questions.

OH PS..tell your daughter to get renters insurance only about $200 a year, Traveller's Insurance co....... she could have claimed the loss then the insurance co, would go after the landlord.

[Edited by djdj on 01-17-2001 at 08:53 PM]

 

[btb726]

Thanks for the sarcasm. If I needed that on top of all else I would have looked elsewhere

 

[djdj]

What sarcasm????? Your daughter didnt know these things AND YOU didnt teach her the facts of life when renting a place or else she would NOT have rented the apartment or lost any money in the first place.

This is a great learning experience for both of you....