I own a co-op apt in Manhattan and have been legally subleasing to a man for 3 years. I have some water damage after a fire in the bldg. a week ago. I am told the cleanup and repairs will take about 2 weeks. The total time the apt will be uninhabitable might be 3 weeks, up to a month, tops.
From day one, my tenant declared the apt is "destroyed," is "full of mold" and that he intends to break the lease, based on MY breaching the lease--I guess this means not providing a habitable apt. He is the only person who sees mold in the apt. He has not gotten an expert opinion that there is in fact mold or that it will take a long time to repair the damage.
He has now moved his belongings out. He and I both have renters insurance.
I could understand that a tenant should be able to break the lease if an apt. is uninhabitable for months, but is it reasonable to do so if it's only about 3-4 weeks?
Thanks for the help.
Ravgil