No lease agreeement!

[MFraney]

I live in Queens, NY and rent from the owner of a 3 family home. We did not sign a lease agreement. My roommate and I pay rent to him - in cash each month. We have 2 cats and no lease agreement stating that we cannot have pets. He has found out that we have the cats and now I am afraid he will either ask me to get rid of them, or ask me to move out. He did not like the idea of us having them and I wanted to find out what my rights and his rights are as far as him asking me to leave. Can he evict me? I assume anything goes since we have no formal lease. His son lives below me and he has a dog so I wonder if he has any right to make me leave when another tenant has a pet as well.

 

[djdj]

are you living inth attic? or on the first or second floor?

You are probably in an Illegal 3 family house, and since you are paying rent IN CASH with no reciepts, and no lease..

The courts in New York City figure you are not a dumb ass (UNLESS YOU CAN PROVE YOU ARE), and you know this is an illegal rental, so they wont help very much!

almost ALL 3 family house are Illegal, in NYC unless he has it registed as a 3 family house, which means he will have 3 electric meters and you would pay your own electic and gas bills.

If the son is living in the basement or attic apartment,and the parents are in the other apartment,..most judges will NOT consider that you are in the Illegal 3rd apartment, ......strange but true.

 

[MFraney]

Well, maybe I am not technically in a 3 family home? I do pay my own electric and gas for the cooking. Each floor is it's own apartment - I don't think there is an "attic". I am on the top floor(3rd floor) - there is only the roof above me. Each of the apartments is a 3 bedroom apt. The ground floor is occupied by two college girls and there is a "lobby" or common area when you walk in that contains the stairs to the 2nd and 3rd floors and the door to the ground floor apartment.
My main concern still is that I have no idea what my rights are concerning the pet issue. The owners son lives on the second floor, the parents live down the street. As I said before, the son has a dog. When we moved in he told us specifically "no dogs, my son has a dog because he is my son and I make an exception for him." We have two cats and since we have no formal lease agreement I have no idea what my rights and the owners' rights are in this situation. HELP!

 

[djdj]

YOU see without a lease its what ever the landlord wants, and you should go to DHCR 9315 Gertz plaza in Jamacia, and see if it is registered as a 3 family house, if not, then you could withold the rent untill it is made legal, look around the house, or ask the girls do they pay electric and gas...if the house is legal then it will have 3 meters, and 2 if its illegal.

The only LOGICAL answer is to OFFER the landlord say $300-400 as a pet deposit, WHY?

The landlord would be totally shocked that a tenant would pay MORE money without a big fight.

This how totally unusual and SHOCKING it would be to counter him with "ill give you say $300-400 as a pet deposit, you will take the money.....right?"

Make sure you get a reciept!

 

[MFraney]

Thank you very much - I will take your suggestion! Whish me luck!
Marianne