Landlord Refuses to Fix Multiple Problems and is Threatening Me if I Report Him

[crystallee]

My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: New York, Nassau County. I am renting an apt in a house that includes all utilities including cable internet and phone, a few months ago he rented the remainder of the house to a couple with a loud aggressive dog who barks constantly, changed the password on the internet, cut off my telephone and heat, use my private entryway to smoke cigarettes and other substances. Numerous calls to the landlord did not resolve anything I was forced to call the police and Dept of health, withhold rent etc In order to get heat and utilities restored. The landlord was forced to have the phone company change the set up so they could not cut off my phone and net. He gave me an electric heater however if I use it anywhere in the apt it blows a fuse and I have no access to turn it on I am forced to choose between lights or heat. He has also refused to do anything about the other tenants parties, drugs or dog and now they've taken to turning my power off for fun. The police have told me that it's my landlords responsibility and are sick of doing his job. He has told me if I continue to report him he will call Child protective services and cause trouble. I have been looking to move but can't find anything in the school district not to mention he has a last months rent deposit so I'm stuck here for at least a couple of months. What is my legal recourse? I'm a single mother so I can't afford an expensive attorney. I'm not on section 8 and I live in a Locust Valley

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you report housing violations and your landlord commences an eviction action in retaliation, you can countersue for retaliatory eviction. If his threat is "I will contact CPS if you report me," try to get some sort of objective documentation of the threat and, to the extent necessary, get your ducks in a row in case CPS calls. I suggest seeing if legal aid can assist you.