I live in a 2 Family Rental Brownstone in Brooklyn
It is not registered as one, we have only one mailing address, all mail comes to this one address and I sort it for both tenants.
The owner lives outside the country.
The building does not have a Building Manager.
I pay for all the heat and electricity (as agreed on the rider to my lease).
I was told by the owner by email he would renew my lease for another two years.
But in the meantime he is trying to sell the house, wont reply to my email(only mode of communications with owner) if it is true that he is trying to sell the house.
I found out from reading the law that he is in VIOLATIONS OF some CITY LAWS:
1. Not registering the house as a two family rental property.
2. Not having a building manager as he lives outside the country( 50 miles or more from the city)
3. The lease we ( both tenants) signed is invalid due to some of the clauses in the lease i.e. Paying for Gas and Electricity for entire house, having not the ability to deduct any expenses incurred to fix problems on the house from rent etc.
4. The house is declared as his Permanent residence. I am told that one cannot claim a property to be a Permanent residence where you dont live and claim income from such property. ( Tax liabilities are at issue)
I am looking for advise on how to proceed with the owner. Do I have any legal rights going forward and could I bring it to the notice of the authorities. I am told by many people that if it is not Registered as a two family appartment, then I could stay indefinately, until the matter is resolved and not pay rent.
I dont wish to proceed on anything without legal advise and or guidance to what steps I should take.