Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New York

I moved to Manhattan recently, and it was only until a few weeks after I had already moved in that I realized I hadn't been told that my building is directly attached to a halfway house. I'm a single woman, and my apartment is facing the street. Besides the many fights and drunken screaming matches that happen in front of my window, I feel unsafe.

Was there any legal obligation to let me know about the halfway house before I signed the lease?

The agent had rented this apartment before, so was obviously aware of it. The building is not marked as such in any way, so there was no way I could know.

Do I have any legal recourse?

Thanks for your time!

Maria


Asked on 11/16/10, 8:28 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Markowitz Michael A. Markowitz, PC

Q. Was there any legal obligation to let me know about the halfway house before I signed the lease?

A. I do not believe so.

Q. Do I have any legal recourse?

A. Legal recourse, no. However, you may ask the landlord to release you from the lease. You may attempt to find a replacement tenant and offer the landlord the new tenant. And of course, you may break the lease, knowing that you may be required to pay the landlord damages for loss of rental income and to re-let the apartment.

Mike.

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Answered on 11/22/10, 5:33 am


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