Can I Cash Rent Checks for My Landlord?

[JessicaEnrich]

My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: NY and/or NJ (I think)

I live in NY renting an apartment from an absentee landlord who lives in NJ. I get rent assistance through the state. The landlord does not want to come to NY (the cks are sent to my address) and get the checks and cash them. Instead he wants me to cash them and then send him a money order. Anyway since the checks are made out to both of us can I legally do this?

[aaron]

Why not endorse the check then forward it to him?

[JessicaEnrich]

I have offered to do that although both signatures are not required to cash but he doesn't want these checks he wants a MO. I don't want to get in trouble w/the state but I don't want to get evicted either. I may have to ask social services and hope they don't find the situation suspicious.

[LawResearcherMissy]

I may have to ask social services and hope they don't find the situation suspicious.

This is your best option. If both signatures are not required to cash the check, I would expect that this would not be an issue, but it never hurts to ask the people issuing the checks to begin with.

I'm wondering about your landlord's motivations, though.

[JessicaEnrich]

My opinion (and it can be totally wrong) but I think he may want to avoid taxes. I'm not sure though, I have never been a landlord so not sure how they report rental income but getting checks from the state I am sure gets reported to the IRS.