If my residential rental only has a Certificat of Occupancy for commercial use, is my lease valid?
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If my residential rental only has a Certificat of Occupancy for commercial use, is my lease valid?
Recently my landlord back-billed me for 5 month’s of electric service. He stated that it is not included in my rent and I would have to pay him directly because my unit, along with the other 2 on my floor, is on the same meter. I dug a little and found that the units on my floor, which is the 1st floor and includes the finished cellar level, are not listed as dwellings on the CO. They are for “Retail stores” and “Commercial storage, meter utility access and mechanical room retail spaces”. Will I get my deposit back if I move becausecof this? I am afraid I will be asked to leave.
Asked on September 21, 2010 under Real Estate Law, New York
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
Do a little bit more digging. Is your C of O for a manufacturing or other commercial type business? Then ten to one your apartment is illegal and the lease is not only "voidable" but actually void. Many landlords have illegally converted apartments in what were commercial manufacturing spaces into lofts for residential use. This has been in part to a lack of commercial manufacturing business and the buildings being located in an upcoming area close to a major transportation to a large city (Williamsburg Brooklyn comes to mind here). These situations have resulted in a plus for tenants and a real problem for landlords, because landlord s can not collect rent or utilities from these tenants not evict them or sue for back rent. So take your case to an attorney in your area and double check your status. Good luck.
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
You are facing multiple issues with respect to your rental and lease agreement. First and foremost, your lease could be voidable because it is not a residential unit and residential leases have certain protections commercial leases do not have. Further, your landlord cannot simply kick you out in retaliation for discovering what occurred and reporting it to the proper authorities like building and safety and your state or county prosecutor's office. Most states have slumlord laws so you want to make sure you tap into that avenue in case your landlord's actions equate to such violations. In terms of electric service, if you did not have an agreement with your landlord to pay the electric service and he failed to get that agreement with you prior to you signing the lease and you were led to believe electric service was included in your lease, he cannot now back bill you.
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