Housing department may evict me from illegal apartment but I do not pay rent.

[stacio7]

I live in an attic in Queens New York. The house is owned by a friend of my family and when I was in college they let me move into the attic which consists of two rooms and a bathroom. I don't pay rent, but sometimes I help out with the electric bill. Someone reported that I live in an illegal apartment and I am worried when the housing department comes (later this week) even though I don't pay rent they will make me leave the dwelling. It's basically like having a teenager with there own private space. Can the housing department make me vacate the premises if they see it as an illegal apartment even if I pay no rent? Any information would be very helpful!!

 

[Michael Wechsler]

I don't think there is a problem. You may want to clean up the attic to make it look like it's only an occasional place to stay, not a "lease" situation and that will create the least commotion. If you don't pay rent then I'm not sure how the housing department can complain it's an illegal dwelling unit - usually its the lease and rent which causes the problem. Don't worry so much. The neighbor probably thought that there was a lease and figured he'd get even. It happens frequently, especially with people who try to rent parts of their home illegally. Good luck.