Full question:
I am living in a rented house in New York City. Few months back the land lord came and fixed the electrical wiring in the house. After a few days, our house caught fire due to some glitch in the electrical wiring and the ground floor of the house got destroyed. I requested the landlord to make the repairs but he refused to make the repairs. Can I leave the premises in such a situation? situation?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Repairs
- Date:
- State: New York
Answer:
In New York, if your rented home is damaged or destroyed and is no longer fit for living, you may have the right to leave the property. This applies if the damage was not caused by you. According to NY CLS Real Property § 227, if a building is rendered untenantable due to destruction or injury and no written agreement states otherwise, you can surrender the lease without being liable for future rent. Any rent you’ve already paid may be adjusted to the date you leave.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.