Absentee and Neglectful Landlord

[fultonferry1]

I'm a renter in a brownstone with 3 apartments and one abandoned commercial space on the ground floor. For the past 4 years, I and the other tenants have been maintaining the building because my landlord won't. Cleaning the hallways, replacing hallway lightbulbs, maintaining the garbage area, shoveling the walkway, comissioning work on chimneys, general repairs, appliances, hot water heaters, gutters, buzzers, locks to fire doors, fire sprinkler systems in hallways, etc. In addition, since the commercial space has been abandoned for years, we've had no utility meter readings because no one can get into the basement. We've all sent multiple letters, left voice messages and no response. Up to now we've been taking this work off our rent and still no response. We're all fed up. A few days ago, construction started in the lot behind our building. The deck off the 1st floor apt. is on their site line and is going to be ripped down. Our cable and telephone wires run along this wall. We've called her and still no response.
We all want to purchase our apartments since we're already acting as owners and they are beautiful. How do we aproach this issue since she's made it clear that this building is not a priority to her and we've been taking these responsibilities on for 4 years? What are our rights?

[ChrisG]

are your in the city? this post may get more attention in the NYC parts of the forum.

the first thing that pops into my mind here is, is your landlrod dead or something? it sounds like she is non-existent but still manages to resurrect herself long enough to cash your checks? and if the utility guys can't read the meters, why haven't they shut everything off?

your case almost sounds like those buildings that went to squatters in the LES recently. it might be worth it to contact the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board and see what they think about it.

UHAB Website

please keep us apprised of your situation. i think most of us renters have often felt like doing what you wanna do: take an apartment away from a bad landlord and do it right yourselves

[Steph]

Hi there....I would start by calling the building inspectors in your town and reporting that the premises are not being kept up to code. If there are violations the state will certainly find your landlord and make sure these problems are taken care of. Furthermore, you have the right to make reasonable repairs and deduct those expenses from your rent. Legally you may be required to give notice (to your landlord) of your intent to make these repairs and deduct them from your rent. I would start by calling the fire department....did you say you put a sprinkler system in? that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard of and if your landlord is in violation of fire code he/she will be in deep trouble....so I would start there...good luck!