Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in New York

faulty/ tapped electric meter
about 8 months ago i discovered my electric meter was illegally tapped, and i was paying for electric usage for the hallway,and basement.(where someone lives) I asked the landlord to fix it,and they said they would.They also said in the mean time they would deduct $50 per month for the time I had been paying for electric I did not use.I took their word that it was fixed, but now 8 months later I am still getting high bills, so I turned off my apartments circuit breaker the other day, and all the lights in the basement went off. That proves it was never fixed, and I have still been paying for their elec. usage for the past 8 months. I demanded they fix it properly 3 weeks ago, and they have not. I deducted $350 from the rent i payed for june.( at that time 7 months x $50 = $350 ) and they say i owe them the $350 and are adding it to july's rent. I want to know- do I have the right to hire my own electrician to make this repair. (they have asked me not to, 3 weeks ago when they said they would fix it, but they still have not made this repair.) also do i owe them for the $350? the $50 per month compensation was a verbal agreement that the land lord originally suggested.(8 months ago...mid november)

Asked on 7/09/09, 11:04 am

Michael Markowitz Michael A. Markowitz, PC

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Re: faulty/ tapped electric meter

I would immediately contact Con Ed. and file a complaint.

Mike.

Answered on 7/09/09, 11:28 am

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