Can I Back Out of a Lease if I Think My Landlord is Smuggling Illegals

[dqtprncss]

My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: NY

I moved into my apartment 6mos ago and I believe my landlord is smuggling immigrants but no concrete proof. This makes me uncomfortable and although I've reported my suspicions to the proper authorities I have a strong desire to move. After looking into things I realized that the owner of the building did not sign any paperwork associated with my lease, her daughter did. However, there's nothing stating that the daughter is the managing agent or acting landlord or any such language. I looked into the public records for this building and there is no listing of the daughter as partial owner, only the mother. Is my lease valid being that the owner didn't sign. Please bear in mind that this is a multi-family brownstone in Brooklyn, NY and not run by a managing company. Any light that could be shed on this subject would be a great help. I just don't want to be involved with anything illegal and I'd rather separate myself from this property if smuggling is what is taking place.

[Mr. Knowitall]

You have not given us any reason to believe you have a basis to back out of your lease.

You can "suspect" that your landlord is cutting up bodies and storing them in his basement - a suspicion won't do it. And even then, let's say your landlord is caught and goes to prison, you're still bound to his successor in interest as it's irrelevant to your leasehold.

It doesn't matter a bit that the landlord or property owner didn't personally sign the lease. Unless the lease is contingent on a signature from the landlord's agent, the only signature required to bind you to the lease is yours.