Newark unsafe apartment advice? (section 8, lease, mortgage)

[Kissy Boots]

Hi! Long time lurker, first time poster.

To make a long story short, I am paying market rent for an extremely unsafe apartment with no heat to speak of and unlivable conditions. I need to move ASAP and my landlord refuses to return my deposit because I informed her on the 7th. She is unstable and argumentative and I need my deposit back as I had to pay $3000 to move.

If I report the conditions to prove my case, it may affect my other 24 roommates. What can I do? I just want my deposit back so I can leave.

I am very scared and I have two little kids and not a lot of money. FYI, it's the >redacted<, in case you were looking to move.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[desertsun41]

Did we read that right? You have 24 room mates? And you want our advice? I hope you have more then one bedroom in there. Come to think of it I hope you have at least 12 bedrooms but I doubt it.

The SPCA and Animal Control would arrest those responsible for putting 24 dogs in one apartment. And you have 24 humans in one apartment?

I think you would be lucky if the cops dont track you down by way of your post and deport you all.

[Kissy Boots]

I do have 24 roommates, and we're all citizens. We are, however, largely here because we can't afford to move elsewhere.

Any constructive advice? >laugh<

[jstorm]

Having 24 roommates is a little unsafe if you know what I mean. Its not meant for 24 people to share a house let alone live in one apartment but I understand what you are going through. You can actually use that in your case to your landlord. It is illegal to have that many people share an apartment, and because she did not refuse you its a win win situation. You can get your money back and live in peace, but it really wouldnt make much sense to use that in a case but it is an option.

[Kissy Boots]

Resolution! She's giving it back!

[desertsun41]

Ok this is beyond stupid but please entertain us some more.

How many bedrooms sleeps these 24 people?

Do some sleep in the bath tub and on the kitchen counter tops?

How many male and how many female live there?

How many bathrooms do you have there?

You said you cant afford anything else. If all 24 of you had a job just making minumim wage, I did the math. You would have almost $7000 gross a month coming in. That kind of money can get quite a nice house and mortgage in any of the most prestigious cities. And Newark the cesspool that it is has nothing that costs that kind of money let alone enough sq footage to hold you all.

So how many of you do work?

No way can you fit 24 mattresses into one of those Newark human filing cabinets so are you like shoulder to shoulder in sleeping bags?

Screw the landlord angle. We want to know the juicy details how this living arrangement works.

[RamCharger1985]

Originally Posted by desertsun41

Ok this is beyond stupid but please entertain us some more.

How many bedrooms sleeps these 24 people?

Do some sleep in the bath tub and on the kitchen counter tops?

How many male and how many female live there?

How many bathrooms do you have there?

You said you cant afford anything else. If all 24 of you had a job just making minumim wage, I did the math. You would have almost $7000 gross a month coming in. That kind of money can get quite a nice house and mortgage in any of the most prestigious cities. And Newark the cesspool that it is has nothing that costs that kind of money let alone enough sq footage to hold you all.

So how many of you do work?

No way can you fit 24 mattresses into one of those Newark human filing cabinets so are you like shoulder to shoulder in sleeping bags?

Screw the landlord angle. We want to know the juicy details how this living arrangement works.

LOL. Also, according to her, the apartment has no heat or other utilities and she is broke, but she happens to own a computer and have money to pay for an internet connection.

[judithexit]

Originally Posted by RamCharger1985

LOL. Also, according to her, the apartment has no heat or other utilities and she is broke, but she happens to own a computer and have money to pay for an internet connection.

Library has connection first of all,
If you have no Heat and kids that is your biggest red flag.
you need to go and apply for section 8 in every town you can.
call and look in the newspaper for the housing auth. so you can apply
they also have emergency selters you can go to. scew the money your kids are the most important thing. Also do you have a lease?

[JackedInPrinceton]

I really think this is a joke.. It just dosen't sound quite possible.

[DessertRat]

Originally Posted by jstorm

It is illegal to have that many people share an apartment

That may be, but holy cow is that ridiculous.