Illegal Basment Apt advice (Ridge: apartments, rental, home)

[Look1980]

I am living in an illegal basement apartment with my partner in Ridgewood, Queens. The home is zoned for 3 apartments, but there are actually 4 apartments in the home, ours being the illegal 4th basement apartment.

Our landlords have been pretty difficult and unpleasant, and we now have an issue with a stove that is leaking gas. We told our landlord about the stove leaking gas, and they promptly removed it as we threatened to call 311. Now we have no stove, and have a fear we will not get another one anytime soon. We also threatened to stop paying rent if we do not get another stove. We ultimately want to get out of this dangerous and unhealthy living situation and want to know what our rights our. There is no physical lease, and my boyfriend has been paying them cash under the table for going on 7 years now. We want to move asap and wanted to know what the steps should be in exposing this apartment as illegal to the city and therefore getting relocation fees paid for so we can move. I have read many places that the landlord must pay 6 times the monthly rental cost to relocate tenants from an illegal apartment. Also, is there anyway we could get back rent paid to us. Thanks!!

[jayden22]

Haha your landlord will never give you back rent!

[goodlife36]

You are a crook. Plain and simple.