Please note that I orginally posted this in the non-regulated and am reposting here to ensure I have the right forum section.
I need help with a rather complicated situation, so I'll try to explain it as best I can.
About 2 years ago, I rented a room in a 5 unit Bronx apartment building. (Although the basement which was once an office has been converted to a 6th apartment, but at HPD it's listed as Class B with 5 units).
The room is located in the superintendent's apartment, who was not paying rent. The super had an agreement with the landloard at that time to maintain the bldg at 100 dollars a week and live in the apartment for free. It was the landlord who rented me the back room in that apartment at 75 dollars a week. The landlord was fine with me paying a rate of $300 dollars a month TO HER SUPER, because the LL said it was in his apt, so he could have the money.
All was fine until a new owner bought the building. The new owner does not want the man I was paying rent to, to be the super anymore. He wants him out. The new landlord has had me paying him the $300 a month directly to him and giving me receipts. The super says he is not going anywhere unless the new landlord gives him $1500 to move OR evicts him with legal court papers.
The new landlord doesn't seem likely to do this since he seems short on money. He has the lights in the hallway off all day and there is barely any heat and hot water in the dead of winter.
2 days ago, the landlord let Con Edison take the electric meter from the apartment I live in. LL said the bill (which is still in the previous LL's name) was $6000 and he isn't paying it. Electric had been included for free for the super and I when I moved in, but apparently no one was paying the bill.
The new LL told Con Ed there were no people living in my apt which is why they took the whole meter. I'm wondering what my rights are, especially if, and after, the super moves out. Can I sue for being put in these conditions while the landlord is collecting my cash? Naturally, I don't have a lease, but I have a cable bill that reflects how long I've been here and my payment receipts.
I don't know if the super has any proof of residency beyond his verbal agreement with the last landlord. Does the new LL need court papers to evict us?
And, if so, being that I'm just renting a room, if the super leaves, should I change the locks and take possession of the apartment until LL evicts me?
I'm worried about the super skipping town while I'm at work or something and the LL busting in. Super and LL have had heated arguments and I heard the LL tell the super he will get him out one way or another. However, LL currently has 3 other tenants in the bldg who aren't paying him either and he hasnt even evicted them. He only comes to their doors and argues.
Right now, I am just trying to cope with no light, and the entire building, even the paying tenants, living with limited heat, hot water and hallway light. Everyone is starting to call him slumlord and he's only owned the building 3 months. We are starting to have a mouse problem as well because, as the new LL states, "This building is too small to need a live-in super". So the garbage in the yard is put out only monthly if we're lucky and no one has mopped or swept the hallway since he's taken over.
Oy.
If the LL does come for my $300 dollars at the end of this month, should I pay him or should I put it in ESCROW? I know I'm asking a lot of questions here for one lisiting..