Renting Room In NYC

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I have been renting rooms in NYC for many years. I make minimum wage, which is $15/hour in this city. It is my hope to rent at least a studio apartment in the near future but this is more like a dream than an upcoming reality. In the last three years, I moved 6 times for different reasons.

What reasons? You know, people stealing my food, noise in the other rooms, bathroom issues, kitchen problems, no heat or hot water in the bleak of winter, etc. I currently have to move out yet again. I just moved into a private house of a woman who is renting rooms in her basement. There are 4 people renting rooms. I am one of the four.

The owner of the house wants me to move because I have been complaining of noise. What kind of noise? Example: construction work on the outer perimeter of the house, the boiler technician working in the basement area next to my room during day time hours does not let me sleep, etc. You see, I work overnight hours and must sleep during the day to successfully do my job.

I have 3 questions:

A. The deposit is returned only after the tenant moves out and the room is inspected for damages.
I do not feel good about the rule but this is what the owner of the house stated when I moved in about 2 months ago. Should I be concerned about getting my deposit AFTER MOVING OUT? The deposit is $540.

B. If this woman does not return my deposit, where in New York City or what phone number can I call to report this person for renting illegal rooms in her house? What's right is right and what's wrong is wrong.

C. I also plan to take pictures of the room from all angles on the day of moving as proof that NO DAMAGE has been done. What do you think about this idea? Thank you. I look forward to your reply.

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So if you weren't moving out, would you still report her to the city?

What's right is right, what's wrong is wrong.

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I do not want to report anyone. It is not in my nature to be a rat but I want my money back. The room will be left exactly as it was on the day I moved in about 2 months ago. What do you say? What can I do?

1 Reply

@harpazo,

Start with HPD

Call 311 and explain to the person your situation, they in turn should give you the direct phone number for HPD.
Taking pictures after your tenancy is not likely to help. It would only be of use of you had taken pictures at the very start of living there. (with them date-stamped)

Regarding noise - work on a boiler system happens. You complain about lack of heat and hot water, well, the boiler system may have needed help. They are not concerned about what your work schedule is. Nor should they be.

Construction work on the exterior of even the interior happens. Again, your work schedule is not their concern.

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@harpazo,

Quote:

...moved in about 2 months ago.

If this is the case, then how would you know what the heating situation is like during the winter? It's only mid-October.

1 Reply

@Sturgis,

What does HPD stand for? Can they fine the owner for renting illegal rooms? I will not report the owner if my deposit is returned, obviously.

1 Reply

@harpazo,

harpazo wrote:

What does HPD stand for? Can they fine the owner for renting illegal rooms? I will not report the owner if my deposit is returned, obviously.

Again, what does having your money returned have to do with reporting her?

Just as you said, what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong.

I guess that only applies to other people.

If you would only report her if you don't get your money back, you're a spiteful douchebag, and that's wrong.

Stop putting the cart before the horse.

And make sure you come back in 5 years and post "Thanks for all the advice"

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@Sturgis,

I should have been warned of the consequences of further complaints. She did not have to kick me out. Get it?

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@chai2,

1. It is my deposit.

2. It is $540. This may not seem like much money to you but to a middle aged man living check to check on a minimum wage salary, this is huge.

3. I am a decent tenant and a great human being.

4. I never paid the rent late.

5. I never got into an argument with anyone here.

6. I do not drink or smoke.

7. I respected all the house rules. Never brought visitors to the house.

YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT YOU AGREE WITH THE OWNER THAT I SHOULD BE KICKED OUT FOR MAKING 3 COMPLAINTS, LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS ABOUT NOISE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO GET PROPER REST BEFORE GOING BACK TO MY OVERNIGHT JOB? IS THIS WHAT YOU MEAN?

Jesus was right when He said that in the last days before His return ". . .the love of many shall wax cold."

1 Reply

@chai2,

How would you like to be kicked out for making a complaint that is legitimate and reasonable?

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@chai2,

Do you agree that we live in a heartless society? Let me guess: You are a liberal, right? You disagree with the Constitution of the United States? Right?

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Well, that escalated quickly.

Chai and Sturgis are right. You don't get to wrap yourself in a moral cocoon if doing the "right" thing only applies when you're being inconvenienced.

Loud noise during the day is a fact of life everywhere. All buildings need maintenance and the schedule for them isn't to your desires and needs; it's to the homeowner's. You know, the person who pays the repair bills.

Buy earplugs.

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@jespah,

This means it's time to move on. Time to start a new post. I have earplugs already.

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@harpazo,

A. This isn't the first time you've moved. Most of the time security deposits are refunded within 30 days, minus any cleaning fees or damage. Don't leave a mess and you should be fine.

B. The city you reside in has a housing authority. Look it up & place a complaint. My question is, why are you absolutely sure the landlord is breaking any housing law?

C. Taking pictures is fine. Just be thorough and critical of the area as you think the landlord is going to be.

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@jespah,

jespah wrote:

Well, that escalated quickly.

Chai and Sturgis are right. You don't get to wrap yourself in a moral cocoon if doing the "right" thing only applies when you're being inconvenienced.

Loud noise during the day is a fact of life everywhere. All buildings need maintenance and the schedule for them isn't to your desires and needs; it's to the homeowner's. You know, the person who pays the repair bills.

Buy earplugs.

Actually I was going to suggest buying a noise canceling machine - you can get them for as low as $15 maybe lower - they make sounds like a fan, ocean, a storm - white noise type of stuff that helps you sleep especially around alot of noise. We bought one for my daughter because she is a light sleeper and it works like a charm. We now have one for our room as well and bring them when we stay at places like hotels as you can never know if you are going to be around loud people.

Unfortunately especially as you sleep during the day you cannot expect everyone else around you to live as you do and you are going to have noise. This could be a compromise.

You could also apologize to her and say if you are willing I am going to get this and see if it helps. It isn't her fault that you work at night and need to sleep during the day.

For your own safety hopefully you can find a reasonable place to stay that is legal - those illegal apartments are typically unsafe ( we have had these around us where there was a fire with no way for the tenant to get out and was killed) - there is a reason for these codes and why certain apartments are illegal.

1 Reply

@Linkat,

I will purchase better ear plugs and forget the world around me.

1 Reply

@harpazo,

harpazo wrote:

I will purchase better ear plugs and forget the world around me.

I never thought ear plugs were comfortable - but I love the noise canceling machine

1 Reply

@Linkat,

I will try the noise cancelling machine as well. By the way, I move out on 10/17 to start my new life.

1 Reply

@harpazo,

harpazo wrote:

I move out on 10/17 to start my new life.

....and potentially get someone else in trouble by your whims.

You can't have things both ways.
Saying some black and white thing like "what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong", and then throwing 50 shades of gray in there making it all right for you to report her "if" she doesn't give you your money back.

That's "what's right is right is I get what I what, but she's wrong and I'm right based on if I don't like what happens."

That's the same premise as your: It's wrong for men/boys to sexually harrass females "unless" the female is dressing in a way you personally deem inappropriate. The level of appropriateness of course varies widely based on the "rightness" of the situation, and must be adhered to by the female, since she obviously knows what situations men are able to control themselves in, and in what situations they can't.

So instead of what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong, you want to make it all conditional on what suits you, or is convenient to people who don't want to be responsible for their actions.

Renting Room In NYC

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