Landlord said renovation will take one week. In the meantime we (a family of four) were told to use the bathroom and kitchen sink (bathroom has no sink) in vacant apartment across the hall. Here’s the problem: The entire apartment is under-construction and completely filthy. It’s filled with dust and reeks of mold. Wood planks, paint chips and huge dry wall pieces are everywhere. Nothing is clean and the air is thick. We also had our water shut off in our apartment for the bathroom reno., so we go back and fourth to brush our teeth/ wash our face/ bathe and fetch water to boil back in our apt. The landlords workers already skipped out on work 2 days in a row (we actually had to call the workers to find out what was up but they insisted everything will be done by Sunday) I’m getting worried and disgusted at how much more I can take. I’m sure landlord would not dare step foot in the vacant apt for his personal care…Should I sue? Also, landlord has a habit of not being on top of repairs
Your answers can be found by going on the internet onto the official website of the NYS Attorney General (Andrew Cuomo) and type in the search bar- – - TENANTS BILL OF RIGHTS… you will find all sorts of VERY interesting information including legalities of apartment renovations by landlords… I’ve had some fights with MY landlord as well (I’m in UPSTATE NY) and have used the Tenants Bill of Rights to prove MY points on several occasions… make it work for YOU as well… but read it carefully… it has a habit of making a statement and futher into the paragraphs, it tells a bit MORE on the subject… so just read EVERYTHING about your particular problem… IF you ASKED for the bathroom renovation, I’m not sure what grounds you would have for a lawsuit. My landlord is actually going to do my bathroom as well, but he asked me if there was going to be a time I was going away for a few days and he would do it at THAT time and NOT while I was home….
You might suggest to the landlord that he foot the bill for putting you up in a hotel until his repairs are completed. If he objects to this, tell him you will see a lawyer.
I think my advice to you would be to find another place to live. Even if your apartment is habitable, the fact that the surrounding apartments are filthy means that you will have trouble with bugs and mice. If the wait for the repairs continue too much longer, I think you should contact township officials. A visit from them might just spur him onward in getting the job done.