briheartzu
New Member
My building was advertised in the newspaper as being secured entry. When I moved in it was, the front and rear bottom doors both closed automatically and required a key. Since then, the device that closes the door has been broken on both, and the frame on the rear door was chipped away at so that you can't even pull it shut. My apartment was broken into, my inside door frame was damaged, along with the door and the deadbolt. The landlord agreed to put a new door and frame on. When he showed up, he told me that my current door was more secure than any other one that he could put on, and cut only about a foot out of the door frame and replaced it with new wood. He left the old door on and changed the deadbolt and bottom lock. He said that he did that as a favor to us, it is really my responsibility to fix the door since it is my property. He said that if I wanted a new door put on I would have to sign an agreement stating that if somebody broke in again I would then be responsible for putting the new door and frame on. He wouldn't even put a new frame on if I signed the agreement. I couldn't find anything in the lease stating that the door is my property. The lease did say that I was responsible for all damage to my personal property, caused by myself or any invitees or trespassers. I refused to sign the statement and told him that I would be moving.
Is the door my property? If so, would I still be responsible for it because the landlord did not fix the outside doors for months, still advertising the building as secured and knowing about the problem?
The building manager also informed me that previous tenants had not turned in their outer-door key, and the landlord refused to change the outside lock or collect the missing keys because it would be too expensive. Also, a tenant that was evicted for not paying rent that had not turned in his key was arrested a week prior to the break-in for possession of stolen property. He had been seen at the building several times after he was evicted and had moved out all his belongings.
I voiced my concern to the landlord about this person several times after I had seen him there, and the landlord still would not fix both bottom doors to lock and close properly.
Also, the breakin happened September 31, and at that time the landlord told me he would NOT replace anything, I told him that I would not pay him rent until he agreed to fix it. I later spoke with the manager, who said he would get the landlord to fix it, I told him I would pay the landlord when he fixed the door. He showed up on October 4th with a new door, so I wrote out the check for him, and went next door with a friend to leave them alone to fix everything. When I came back the new locks were on the old door and I was informed the door would NOT be changed. I then told the landlord I would cancel the check since he really didn't fix the problem. Today is the 9th and they still have not put the metal hardware on the frame that helps to prevent break-in, the deadbolt is just sitting in the wooden make-shift frame with no metal securing it in place. Do I have a right to withhold rent since there is absolutely NO SECURITY to my apartment?
I live in New York State, by the way.
Ultimately, who is responsible for my door?
Is the door my property? If so, would I still be responsible for it because the landlord did not fix the outside doors for months, still advertising the building as secured and knowing about the problem?
The building manager also informed me that previous tenants had not turned in their outer-door key, and the landlord refused to change the outside lock or collect the missing keys because it would be too expensive. Also, a tenant that was evicted for not paying rent that had not turned in his key was arrested a week prior to the break-in for possession of stolen property. He had been seen at the building several times after he was evicted and had moved out all his belongings.
I voiced my concern to the landlord about this person several times after I had seen him there, and the landlord still would not fix both bottom doors to lock and close properly.
Also, the breakin happened September 31, and at that time the landlord told me he would NOT replace anything, I told him that I would not pay him rent until he agreed to fix it. I later spoke with the manager, who said he would get the landlord to fix it, I told him I would pay the landlord when he fixed the door. He showed up on October 4th with a new door, so I wrote out the check for him, and went next door with a friend to leave them alone to fix everything. When I came back the new locks were on the old door and I was informed the door would NOT be changed. I then told the landlord I would cancel the check since he really didn't fix the problem. Today is the 9th and they still have not put the metal hardware on the frame that helps to prevent break-in, the deadbolt is just sitting in the wooden make-shift frame with no metal securing it in place. Do I have a right to withhold rent since there is absolutely NO SECURITY to my apartment?
I live in New York State, by the way.
Ultimately, who is responsible for my door?
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