There are always problems between landlords or property management and tenants for one reason or another, such as rent, repairs, or rules. For this reason, specific laws are in place to prevent either side from abusing the other. For example, this property management company in New Jersey disregarded all property rental laws after removing the tenant’s toilet. Not only did they remove the toilet from the floor, but they also ended up destroying the entire place and leaving it uninhabitable.
Redditor flawlessbamy shared on r/Tenant how the management of the apartment they rent posted that they needed access on Monday, July 21, between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. This was because they would be doing “essential plumbing repairs affecting the building’s plumbing system.” If the OP refused access to the workers, they would enter anyway. In addition, they did not specify what repairs they would do, nor did they provide details on how it would affect the place or how long it would take. However, the real problem arose when no workers showed up on Monday, July 21, but they did come to do the “repairs” on Tuesday, July 22, without any notice.
This was not a repair, as this property management in New Jersey claimed, but rather the workers “removed the only toilet, exposing the sewer drain in the bathroom.” Also, OP mentions that “they dismantled the kitchen walls and removed the sink and oven.” Let’s not even discuss the use of protective gear or that they damaged OP’s property. The apartment was left uninhabitable due to exposed pipes, missing walls in many areas, and “debris and dust everywhere.”
This case only worsened as the OP was concerned that the workers were wearing masks, so he called the local health department today, which confirmed that this is a serious problem. OP also contacted the DOB (Department of Buildings), where they learned that the management did not have any permits. All these “repairs” affected every apartment in the building, and those who stayed also lost access to bathrooms. The management didn’t provide prior notice, let alone accommodations for all tenants. Fortunately, Reddit users agreed that this situation is entirely illegal, for example:
100% illegal AF. There is a certain amount of leeway that landlords have for emergency repairs, especially for plumbing and electrical issues in terms of notification, accessing your apartment when you are not present, and pulling proper permits. HOWEVER it is illegal as heck for them to make your apt uninhabitable and not offer you any compensation or alternative housing (such as putting you up in a hotel, reimbursing you for cleaning, rotted food, or personal items that may have been damaged in the course of the work).
HappyKnittens
You’re going to want to attack this problem from several angles simultaneously:
-figure out who issues certificates of occupancy for rentals, who is the local inspector responsible, get them out to your apt ASAP.
-reach out to a local tenants advocacy group
-get a lawyer, you’re in NY metro area so there are SO MANY tenant lawyers near you
-find out who at NJ state level is responsible for permits/licensing for asbestos abatements, because that is probably your biggest concern here – you want them to come out to your building to test the dust that’s being raised
-IF THERE IS ASBESTOS, DO NOT PLAY WITH IT. THOSE FIBERS STICK TO EVERYTHING, CAN CONTAMINATE WASHING MACHINES, AND WILL NEVER COME OFF OF CERTAIN SOFT ITEMS LIKE CLOTHING, BEDDING, FURNITURE, AND SHOES. YOU WILL HAVE TO THROW OUT MOST OF YOUR POSSESSIONS AND THAT WILL SUCK BUT IT IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN DYING OF MESOTHELIOMA. Document everything that you need to throw out and sue the pants off your landlord for replacement value.
Good luck!!!!!
The other tenants, along with OP, should take immediate action and contact a lawyer right away. The situation is precarious, and numerous contaminants are present in the ruins of that building. Also, OP noted in the comments that their landlord is ignoring their calls.
