Landlord Sueing for illegal Rent; Counter Claims?

[steelgirl]

What is New York's state law concerning deposits? The master tenants will not give me the damn 525 dollars I paid them in security because I moved out of the illegal dwelling. I can't even track them down, unless I have by chance.

[newtoli]

Was the apartment itself illegal or were you simply subletting from the master tenant?

Subletting in and of itself is not illegal.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Did you get a receipt from them for your deposit or do you have a money order receipt or a copy of the cashed check from your bank? You will need to prove you gave them the deposit in the first place. You will also need their current address to take them to court.

My advice is to find out where they are and file a claim in the Small Claims Court that serves their location.

As for whether the apartment itself is illegal or not, that is not an issue. The issue is you paid a deposit to sub-landlords and never received it back.

[newtoli]

If the subletting and apartment are legal, and she broke her lease, she won't be entitled to getting the deposit back.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by newtoli

If the subletting and apartment are legal, and she broke her lease, she won't be entitled to getting the deposit back.

She said she "broke the illegal lease" so I just took her word for it.

[hotkarl]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

She said she "broke the illegal lease" so I just took her word for it.

I think that's like driving with no insurance and having an accident that isn't "your fault".
You are at fault because you had no insurance.
Shouldn't have been on the road.
Or something like that.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by hotkarl

I think that's like driving with no insurance and having an accident that isn't "your fault".
You are at fault because you had no insurance.
Shouldn't have been on the road.
Or something like that.

So what you mean is a typical shady occurrence.

[steelgirl]

I was harassed by these people. I have a few of my receipts including one that a church paid. I also have evidence that this was not legal. These people are really shady. They would not let me mail them a check to keep my stuff there. I miss NY but I don't want to end up in this situation again. I might have seek personal counseling for what the master tenants did.

[hotkarl]

Originally Posted by steelgirl

I was harassed by these people. I have a few of my receipts including one that a church paid. I also have evidence that this was not legal. These people are really shady. They would not let me mail them a check to keep my stuff there. I miss NY but I don't want to end up in this situation again. I might have seek personal counseling for what the master tenants did.

It's simple, go to a pay phone and call the FBI and tell them you believe these people are involved in terrorist activities.
That'll fix 'em.