m0llusk: Slumlords should be forced to live in their worst buildings until the whole mess gets cleaned up.

WhyteRaven74: m0llusk: Slumlords should be forced to live in their worst buildings until the whole mess gets cleaned up.

Better solution, take their buildings away.

While I agree with both of these, no one is forcing the people to stay there.

I know, that's not an excuse for how they are bring treated, and i'm sure that's exactly what the landlord wants. But still, why would any rational person subject themselves to this?

zymosan:
I know, that's not an excuse for how they are bring treated, and i'm sure that's exactly what the landlord wants. But still, why would any rational person subject themselves to this?

Often they are people who can't afford a better place or (increasingly) don't have the credit rating to get approval at a better place.

House of Tards: zymosan:
I know, that's not an excuse for how they are bring treated, and i'm sure that's exactly what the landlord wants. But still, why would any rational person subject themselves to this?

Often they are people who can't afford a better place or (increasingly) don't have the credit rating to get approval at a better place.

Or the landlord won't provide a good reference. Or the landlord has lied to them about their rights as tenants. Or... yeah. There's a multitude of reasons people get stuck in shiatholes.

This is the age of the internet, subby... there is no no more humanity.

log_jammin: Everything I know about living in new york is from watching law and order.

That said, It's an alien world to me. I can't even imagine going to the store and only being able to buy enough food that you could carry home.

You buy a little folding grocery cart or you have your groceries delivered. It's not horrible at all.

The trouble comes when your public transit sucks ass and you have to take three buses to get a week of food.

zymosan: While I agree with both of these, no one is forcing the people to stay there.
Unless of course they have a lease.
And while under these conditions you can break a lease, even if you know you can, it isn't that easy.

SuperCatBarf: "GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD!"

Yeah the local hubris is getting annoying. And I was born here.

I'm a regular Fark reader subby. It killed my faith in humanity a long time ago.

Wow... that really puts my old overpriced "crappy" Transglobe apartment in perspective. Sure, repairs of any kind took forever, the building was without running water during the day for THREE months while they fixed pipes, they went through (usu. bad) supers more often than I change my socks, and their relationship with tenants was adversarial at best (loved the screw job they tried to pull on me when I gave them notice I was leaving). But at least it wasn't infested with rats and bedbugs (eek!), and didn't have crack addicts sleeping in the trash-strewn basement. That's absolutely unbelievable.

(That company name again is Transglobe. If you're in Southern Ontario, avoid them like the plague... while you can. Since they are apparently buying up everything.)

most of those offenders are perfect examples of why rent control is stupid and economically inefficient

zymosan: m0llusk: Slumlords should be forced to live in their worst buildings until the whole mess gets cleaned up.

WhyteRaven74: m0llusk: Slumlords should be forced to live in their worst buildings until the whole mess gets cleaned up.

Better solution, take their buildings away.

While I agree with both of these, no one is forcing the people to stay there.

I know, that's not an excuse for how they are bring treated, and i'm sure that's exactly what the landlord wants. But still, why would any rational person subject themselves to this?

because they cant find anything anywhere else, because there is a shortage of places to live because rent is so low

which encourages landlords to not maintain their buildings, because they know that its harder for the tenants to leave

Take a good look at what rent control has done to city apartments. That's what health care will look like.

soze:
You buy a little folding grocery cart or you have your groceries delivered. It's not horrible at all.
It's called Meals on Wheels, and it's for the very elderly, the very fragile, and no one else.

NukeEuropeNow: Take a good look at what rent control has done to city apartments. That's what health care will look like.

Palm has met face.
Straw men burn, watch any open flames.

whoflungpoop: soze:
You buy a little folding grocery cart or you have your groceries delivered. It's not horrible at all.
It's called Meals on Wheels, and it's for the very elderly, the very fragile, and no one else.

Fresh Direct.

Take a good look at what rent control has done to city apartments. That's what health care will look like.

You mean like where the vast majority of landowners meet standards and a few others have to fix their shiat or gtfo?

Is it just me, or did I miss the reason for the pic on page 3 of the article (bruised butt shot while standing in the bathroom door)? I was waiting for the tragic story of her falling down the decrepit steps, or the landlord physically abusing her. Must've missed something...

With all the legal people involved, can't the renters just get their lease dismissed/broke and move? It's obvious to the judge and officials ordering the landlords to clean up, that the living conditions are deplorable. The tenants in part 1 of the article aren't even paying rent anymore, they haven't since 2008! It's going into an escrow account until the landlord cleans up. Wouldn't moving into a decent place seem a better option?

NukeEuropeNow: Take a good look at what rent control has done to city apartments. That's what health care will look like.

Obvious troll is obvious.

Why oh why did a black hat have to start out the list of 10 bad landlords? As if the Jews don't have enough problems, we've got the Hasids "representing" us with their aloof attitudes, several days of not showering, and loose notions of American consumer protection.

I saw this guy living in my last apartment building:

This Guy. (new window)

soze: log_jammin: Everything I know about living in new york is from watching law and order.

That said, It's an alien world to me. I can't even imagine going to the store and only being able to buy enough food that you could carry home.

You buy a little folding grocery cart or you have your groceries delivered. It's not horrible at all.

The trouble comes when your public transit sucks ass and you have to take three buses to get a week of food.

New York sounds poor.

What is this "faith" you speak of submitter?

log_jammin: the whole idea of living in one of those buildings seems like living in a hotel or something.

it's just...odd.

I know plenty of people who have never actually set foot inside a house.

Old enough to know better: I'm a regular Fark reader subby. It killed my faith in humanity a long time ago.

This.

As I read this article, I kept wondering why people don't move from these places, but then thought that if they had they had the money they probably would have moved a long time ago. There are probably a lot of reasons why they stay, proximity to transportation, work, family, etc.

I liked the one set of tenants that set up an escrow account for their rent. They are paying it and will turn it over once the landlord repairs the building.

This is really sad and makes me thankful for my home.

I live in a converted commercial space run by a slumlord, so I'm getting a kick out of these replies. Downside: the garbage disposal has been broken for ten days. Upside: my neighbors are a pilates studio and an urban beauty salon.

Alassra: As I read this article, I kept wondering why people don't move from these places, but then thought that if they had they had the money they probably would have moved a long time ago. There are probably a lot of reasons why they stay, proximity to transportation, work, family, etc.

Yeah, a lot of people will look at these tenants and say they brought it upon themselves, they're too lazy to take control of their lives, etc. Those people cannot understand what being poor means.

The Dreaded Rear Admiral: NukeEuropeNow: Take a good look at what rent control has done to city apartments. That's what health care will look like.

Palm has met face.
Straw men burn, watch any open flames.

Give him a break, even if he's wrong. Actually, health care will be more like going to the DMV.

zymosan: m0llusk: Slumlords should be forced to live in their worst buildings until the whole mess gets cleaned up.

WhyteRaven74: m0llusk: Slumlords should be forced to live in their worst buildings until the whole mess gets cleaned up.

Better solution, take their buildings away.

While I agree with both of these, no one is forcing the people to stay there.

I know, that's not an excuse for how they are bring treated, and i'm sure that's exactly what the landlord wants. But still, why would any rational person subject themselves to this?

It can be very hard to find an apartment in NYC, especially at the income level these people have. I would have a hard time and I have a decent job.

Green Scorpio: Give him a break, even if he's wrong. Actually, health care will be more like going to the DMV.

Which went pretty smoothly last time I was there.

/apart from the photo of the charred corpse that they put on my drivers license.

For a long time now New York has seemed like a 3rd world country to me. Consider that thought reinforced now.

I think I'll keep my house that is mine and is not attached to anyone elses and has grass and flowers and trees around it and nobody lives there or is responsible for it but me. If I want groceries or nightlife I can get in my car and drive a couple miles for it.

Dances-With-Lobster: Alassra: As I read this article, I kept wondering why people don't move from these places, but then thought that if they had they had the money they probably would have moved a long time ago. There are probably a lot of reasons why they stay, proximity to transportation, work, family, etc.

Yeah, a lot of people will look at these tenants and say they brought it upon themselves, they're too lazy to take control of their lives, etc. Those people cannot understand what being poor means.

It's rent control. These people are paying $500 a month and even if they downgraded to a worse place it would shoot to $2000. Even if you wanted to get a place in the most dangerous projects it would cost you like $1500 bucks while your neighbors paid $50. Thus, the landlords don't have the money nor the initiative to keep the upkeep going.

NYC has the most asinine rent policies.

Before someone comes in to justify it just make sure you're getting rent control yourself. It's the only reason you're paying 2K for an apartment that would fetch #350 in the rest of the country. Rent control drives prices UP!

No Such Agency: Wow... that really puts my old overpriced "crappy" Transglobe apartment in perspective. Sure, repairs of any kind took forever, the building was without running water during the day for THREE months while they fixed pipes, they went through (usu. bad) supers more often than I change my socks, and their relationship with tenants was adversarial at best (loved the screw job they tried to pull on me when I gave them notice I was leaving). But at least it wasn't infested with rats and bedbugs (eek!), and didn't have crack addicts sleeping in the trash-strewn basement. That's absolutely unbelievable.

(That company name again is Transglobe. If you're in Southern Ontario, avoid them like the plague... while you can. Since they are apparently buying up everything.)

London?

People wonder why I bother owning a house. Everything in TFA is why. Had my share of crazy and sleezy landlords.

Articles like that make me appreciate all the more my nice little house on a half-acre wooded lot in a suburb with no HOA. My New Yorker friends think living in a 7th-story coldwater walk-up is a small price to pay for living in the greatest city in the world, but I don't think I'd last a month.

chu2dogg: Dances-With-Lobster:
NYC has the most asinine rent policies.

Before someone comes in to justify it just make sure you're getting rent control yourself. It's the only reason you're paying 2K for an apartment that would fetch #350 in the rest of the country. Rent control drives prices UP!

Funny how if things are so bad, no landlord is getting out of the business, huh? Most of the apartments (at least in Manhattan)are owned by large companies. They can afford repairs.

Another thing, if you buy a building where the rent rolls don't make the mortgage, whose fault is that? Yet, people still buy them.

One of the landlords in that article is being sued by the NY State AG. Vantage bought 125 buildings in Washington Heights, Inwood, Harlem and Queens since 2006. Those are low income neighborhoods and most of those apts are rent stabilized. They have been harassing the tenants so they can get them out and turn them into luxury condos.

The Real Estate market in NYC is controlled by greedy savages. They cry poor mouth yet won't open their books to prove it when it comes time for rent increases.

Came for the super ref.

TFA:
"With the water leaks, the broken gas pipes, the sagging floors, plus the mice, bedbugs, and rats, the tenants say there's no reason to pay rent-and they've been withholding it since 2008."


Problem: Your residence is uninhabitable.

Solution 1: Move.

Solution 2: Stop paying rent, continue living there for free, and complain loudly.

Yes, it sucks and the landlord is very clearly in the wrong. But for heaven's sake exercise a little self-determination and don't be a victim. Not to mention you chose to move INTO the building in the first place...


"They are putting the money in an escrow account until the landlord takes care of the building."

Of course they are.

Green Scorpio: The Dreaded Rear Admiral: NukeEuropeNow: Take a good look at what rent control has done to city apartments. That's what health care will look like.

Palm has met face.
Straw men burn, watch any open flames.

Give him a break, even if he's wrong. Actually, health care will be more like going to the DMV.

Right now health care is WORSE than going to the DMV. At least at the DMV, I don't get an appointment 4 months out and get charged hundreds of dollars for the privilege.

And I have good insurance.