Things are changing in New York regarding the rights of renters. If you’ve been following the news, you’ve likely heard about all the changes that Mayor Zohran Mamdani is implementing in just NYC alone. However, there are plenty of renters out there who are struggling to make ends meet with bad landlords at the wheel. For one New York woman, her lease ends on her apartment soon. However, she claims that she’s now facing potential eviction and her audience thinks her landlord may be retaliating against her.
TikToker @asiancherrylimeade shared a TikTok video talking about a recent experience she had with her New York landlord. According to her, her landlord is threatening to evict her before her lease is up. He said he will follow through if she “doesn’t get a professional cleaner” to clean her apartment within 15 days. She tried to tell him she’ll clean it before she moves in four months, but he told her she has 15 days or else she’ll receive an early eviction. When she asked why she needed to hire a cleaner, his excuse was, “It’s just not clean.”
In a follow-up email, this TikToker’s landlord shared that “you are legally obligated to keep the property reasonably clean and properly maintained.” He shares that the guest bathroom is “unsanitary” and the master bathroom is “in very poor condition.” He also tells her that there’s “excessive clutter and personal items throughout the home.” @Asiancherrylimeade walks through her apartment to show her audience the “clutter” she’s referring to. It looks like a lived-in but tidy home, overall. He must be looking at a different apartment than we are.
As she says in her video, it was days since she cleaned her home when he confronted her about it. But, as she asks, “Eviction-worthy?! I don’t think so!” This came after the landlord messaged her asking her if he could see her home once she told him she would be moving out after the lease ends. When she asked if there was a particular area of the home he wanted to see, he responded, “Nothing particularly. Just see overall.” It’s clear that he’s looking for excuses at this point.
Now, keep in mind, landlords are not permitted to retaliate against New York renters under any circumstances. They are protected under the law from eviction and harassment just because a renter reveals that they’ll be moving after the lease ends. However, the only things she could do in this situation is 1. Hire the professional cleaner to possibly sate the landlord, or 2. Take matters to court. Upon her last video, it’s not clear what actions she’s going to take.
Commenters, however, were just as baffled as she was by the situation. One asked, “’Excessive personal items’?? In the house you live in??” Another commenter pointed out, “He’s laying a paper trail to keep your deposit.” It’s possible there is some type of retaliatory action happening here but she won’t know unless she decides to move forward with legal action and the court determines this. Still, commenters state, “He’s up to something.”
