
Quoting
tinkerbell2000
My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: New York
Hello, I recently signed a sublease for an advertised furnished studio in Manhattan with a European man, who has been renting the apartment for many years and subletting while he travels for extended periods each year. Everything was going well until shortly after moving in I realized that there was a bed bug infestation present within the apartment.I have proof of negligence of the primary tenant. As a result of his horrible tactics in dealing with the situation I began questioning him and the lease overall. After he blatently stated that I "should not show management the sublease" and when the super intentendt came up to inspect the situation told me that " I would have to tell management that I was the tenants girlfriend" (which shows the super new of this activity) it finally came to my attention that the sublease was an illegal one and I began questioning everything. I also learned that the studio was not in fact a studio, but a duplex, that the tenant had created into two separate apartments. I learned of this after looking into one of the closets and seeing inclosed stairs, learning that the woman who was supposedly " renting the tenants apartment upstairs" had my mailbox, and that we shared an intercom. As a result of this, and the fact that I don't think it is right for someone to A) illegally sublet B) have a scheme such as this going I contacted the management building. I made them aware of the situation and sent them a copy of the sublease, and all email correspondance between myself and the tenant. My questions are as followed : I have stopped paying the tenant rent, and he has threatened me via email that I am going to be evicted, that he is coming back to the US next week and that I will be forced to move, and that he will seek legal action, what rights do I have? I understand that I will most likely be evicted, but doesn't that process ahve to be undergone through the courts? Isn't it illegal for the tenant to throw me out? Since the sublease is in fact illegal isn't it unlawful for him to seak legal action against me since he wasn't supposed to be subleassing the apartment withouth letting management know to begin with? When the tenant comes back next week do I have to leave the apartment? What will mostly come out of this situation? Any help would be greatly appreciated (I am a female college student and the whole ordeal has really interfered with my education, and my stress level since I dont feel safe in the apartment now)