Every landlord has a duty to their tenants to ensure their property is safe to live in. This is known, in legal terms, as the “implied warranty of habitability,” and no lease agreement can get around this basic obligation. Not every landlord keeps up this responsibility, though, failing to respond to tenants when they complain about problems in their rented spaces. If it goes long enough, neglect can stop being merely inconvenient, and start becoming a legal problem. Here are a few signs to look out for that might tell you it’s time to consider getting a lawyer: Continue reading “When Does a Landlord’s Neglect Become a Legal Issue?”
Category: Landlord-Tenant Disputes
When Can You Legally Break Your Lease Early?
When you sign a lease agreement to rent an apartment, typically you do so with the intention of staying in that apartment for the whole duration. Sometimes, though, you may want to leave an apartment before your lease is up, but doing so may mean you face financial or legal penalties. So when is it legal to quit your lease early, without getting in trouble? Continue reading “When Can You Legally Break Your Lease Early?”
Five Common Reasons for Landlord-Tenant Disputes
While the coronavirus pandemic has caused more problems between landlords and tenants than ever before, landlord-tenant disputes are nothing new. All too often, conflicts between landlords and tenants turn from simple arguments into court cases, potentially costing hundreds or thousands of dollars and sometimes resulting in eviction. Here are five of the most common reasons for landlord-tenant disputes: Continue reading “Five Common Reasons for Landlord-Tenant Disputes”
Landlords Prepare For End of New York Eviction Moratorium
Since almost the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, landlords in New York have been prohibited from evicting tenants who have been unable to pay that rent. With the end of the state’s eviction moratorium on May 1, however, landlords will once again be able to remove non-paying tenants from their apartments. This has led to fears that thousands of New Yorkers will face homelessness this summer, which may lead to a spike in COVID-19 infections. Continue reading “Landlords Prepare For End of New York Eviction Moratorium”
Seven Signs of a Constructive Eviction
Many landlords have been struggling to figure out how to deal with tenants who cannot, or will not, pay their rent. While most landlords remain firmly on the side of the law, some will resort to illegal acts to force out their tenants, in what is known as a constructive eviction. Here are seven signs that you may have become a victim of a constructive eviction: Continue reading “Seven Signs of a Constructive Eviction”
More Than One Third of Americans Face Homelessness
A new report by the United States Census Bureau has said that more than a third of all Americans are facing homelessness in the next two months. This is based on the number of American households that have missed mortgage or rent payments and who are unlikely to meet the necessary requirements to avoid foreclosure or eviction. This comes along with the expiration of federal and state eviction moratoriums that are set to end with the New Year. Continue reading “More Than One Third of Americans Face Homelessness”
Brooklyn Landlords Allegedly Tricked NY State in “Rent-Free” Scheme
A collection of Brooklyn landlords are facing a class action suit, alleging they defrauded both their own tenants and New York State by promising a “rent-free” month to get around rent stabilization laws. This scheme allegedly allowed landlords to overcharge their tenants for apartments that were supposed to be regulated, in violation of state law. The plaintiff alleges this scheme also allowed landlords to raise their rents higher than they normally would be allowed, harming tenants. Continue reading “Brooklyn Landlords Allegedly Tricked NY State in “Rent-Free” Scheme”
Eviction Moratorium in NYS Extended Until Start of New Year
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has extended the state’s moratorium on residential evictions until January 1, 2021. This extension on the eviction moratorium is the latest in a series of extensions for a temporary measure that was originally intended to end in July. While tenants see the extension as a reprieve from potential homelessness, landlords are angered at being unable to kick out tenants who, in some cases, have not paid their rent in more than six months. Continue reading “Eviction Moratorium in NYS Extended Until Start of New Year”
Federal Eviction Moratorium Extended Through End of December
The federal moratorium on evictions, which was set to expire, has now been extended to December 31, 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This means that people who feared being evicted now can avoid being legally removed from their homes until next year. However, this extension of the moratorium does not apply to everyone, and tenants may need to engage in formal advocacy to take advantage of the newly extended moratorium. Continue reading “Federal Eviction Moratorium Extended Through End of December”
New York Eviction Moratorium Extended to October 1
A directive by the New York State Chief Administrative Judge has effectively extended the moratorium on evictions against residential tenants to October 1. The order comes just before the moratorium was set to expire, which would have once again made it legal in New York to begin evicting non-playing tenants. Residential tenants, therefore, get to breathe a momentary sigh of relief as they do not need to worry about being eviction from their homes, at least for now. Continue reading “New York Eviction Moratorium Extended to October 1”
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