ryanblumkryzsta
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? NY
I have been renting at a brownstone in Brooklyn, NY with 2 friends since July of 2005. In February of 2006, my landlord passed away and left no will. I live in a brownstone with 2 other tenants. The landlord lived in the bottom unit. Because the landlord was 78, her sense of smell and physical ability to get things done for us was limited. Our heat has not worked since last year and the smell of animal urine and fecal matter permeates the entire home and air ducts, causing a wreak that is not healthy for human lungs.
Though she did not leave a will, her daughter, became the landlord based on good faith and a verbal agreement. Though it is not legally apparent that her daughter is the Landlord of our brownstone, my roommates and I judged it as the 'honorable' thing to do since she is the only heir to the estate. After our landlord died, her daughter actively removed a significant portion of the contents of the home to reduce the smell. The animals were taken in by animal control and a large amount of debris/furniture was thrown away.
To this day however, the home still wreaks of animal urine. The bottom unit that was occupied by our landlord still has yet to be fully cleaned and all objects removed to allow the smell to disipate. She has done a half-ass job in cleaning the space. One time she poured bleach directly on the wooden floors that connect our units and mopped. The smell and fumes of the Bleach burned my eyes and nose. As a household, we told our 'landlord' that something needs to change or she is not getting any money from us anymore.
Calls were made to Ms. Lynum to arrange a meeting regarding this matter and were not returned. Efforts to fix the heat for the winter months have not been arranged. Cosmetic and small repairs are needed. Until these issues are resolved we have decided to strike and refuse to pay rent to the daughter. We reserve the right to use the rent money to address these issues ourselves.
Is this wrong? What are our rights? What can we do? HELP!
I have been renting at a brownstone in Brooklyn, NY with 2 friends since July of 2005. In February of 2006, my landlord passed away and left no will. I live in a brownstone with 2 other tenants. The landlord lived in the bottom unit. Because the landlord was 78, her sense of smell and physical ability to get things done for us was limited. Our heat has not worked since last year and the smell of animal urine and fecal matter permeates the entire home and air ducts, causing a wreak that is not healthy for human lungs.
Though she did not leave a will, her daughter, became the landlord based on good faith and a verbal agreement. Though it is not legally apparent that her daughter is the Landlord of our brownstone, my roommates and I judged it as the 'honorable' thing to do since she is the only heir to the estate. After our landlord died, her daughter actively removed a significant portion of the contents of the home to reduce the smell. The animals were taken in by animal control and a large amount of debris/furniture was thrown away.
To this day however, the home still wreaks of animal urine. The bottom unit that was occupied by our landlord still has yet to be fully cleaned and all objects removed to allow the smell to disipate. She has done a half-ass job in cleaning the space. One time she poured bleach directly on the wooden floors that connect our units and mopped. The smell and fumes of the Bleach burned my eyes and nose. As a household, we told our 'landlord' that something needs to change or she is not getting any money from us anymore.
Calls were made to Ms. Lynum to arrange a meeting regarding this matter and were not returned. Efforts to fix the heat for the winter months have not been arranged. Cosmetic and small repairs are needed. Until these issues are resolved we have decided to strike and refuse to pay rent to the daughter. We reserve the right to use the rent money to address these issues ourselves.
Is this wrong? What are our rights? What can we do? HELP!