Full question:
I signed a 1 year lease with my landlord about 8 months ago, which he just gave me a copy of. Recently he has gone into my home without my permission and went through my home checking things out. The lease states that he needs to get my permission to enter the premises in a timely manner (which he did not). He told me that he "owns" the place and he can enter any time he wishes. To me this violates my privacy. Can I sue him for illegal entry or charge him somehow for invading my privacy?? This guy is a bully. Also when he gave me the lease I saw where he and his wife wrote things in there "after" i signed it back in September of last year. And copied my signature to the lease HE made out and took out clauses from the original that can be clearly seen. The landlord also "waived" the security on the beginning and now that the lease is almost up, he's damanding the security. (this was verbal)
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Date:
- State: New York
Answer:
Tenants have a right to privacy in their rented homes. Generally, landlords must provide reasonable notice before entering a tenant's apartment for repairs, inspections, or showings, unless there is an emergency. If your landlord entered your home without your consent and did not provide proper notice, this could be considered a violation of your privacy rights.
In New York, landlords cannot abuse their right to enter a property or use it to harass tenants. If you believe your landlord's actions are retaliatory or harassing, you may have grounds for a legal claim. You can seek damages or other relief through the courts if you can prove your landlord violated your rights (N.Y. Real Prop. § 223-b).
Regarding the lease, if your landlord altered it after you signed it without your consent, this could be an issue of contract law. You may want to consult with a legal professional about the validity of the lease and your rights regarding the security deposit, especially if it was verbally waived at the start of your lease.
For further assistance, consider seeking legal advice to explore your options.
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.