Hi, I am a foreign student in New York City and rented an apartment with a roommate in the east village. I signed the lease which looked a standard form.
After living in the apartment for two weeks I realized that in the kitchen there is no ventilation. Basically the kitchen is a room with no window and no exhaust fan. In September it was very warm outside and the state of air in the kitchen was insaluber. I notified the landlord who got very aggressive saying that it was not a law requirement. Then I went to a conselour at my university and he told me that probably the apartment, a 1br, was illegally converted adding a wall to create my room out of the kitchen+living room and this is why there is lack of ventilation. I notified the landlord with certified mail again about the lack of ventilation and also that in the apartment the smoke detector is not working and there is no carbon monoxide detector. He did not reply and on verbal mention he got very aggressive. My roommate also became aggressive and threatened me in order that I leave and sublet my room so he can keep the lease.
I do not know what I should do about this; about a month has passed since I wrote to the landlord. The point is that I have had a major surgery so I would like to have some rest before moving again. I also had to give three months deposit and I am afraid that if I end the lease they won't give me them back.