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landlord / tenant question

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dakels

Platinum Member
I just moved into a new place in Jersey City NJ. Its very nice community right near the water across from manhattan where I work. My new landlord is bring up a few things and I was wondering if anyone knew about the lagalities of his statements. I tried going to a few different sites and couldnt find much and the renter's guide book doesnt seem to help in this matter. I was also looking for some landlord/tenant forum but couldnt find much. (google is shot this morning for some reason... maybe server work?)

Anyways my girlfriend is staying with me for about 2 weeks and my landlord stated that he is supposed to be notified if any guests are staying for more then a 2 week period. Why I dont know... and I want to find out. I want to make sure he has no legal right to say charge me extra rent for themonth because of company or use that against me in an eviction case or hold my deposit. The place is pretty expensive ($2000/month) and I just signed a 1 year lease through a real estate company. I would think he is contractually bound to that lease...

Also, again, I just moved in and had some extra bags of garbage (mainly broken down boxes) which I put outside on the curb in clean, heavy duty lawn bags. My landlord came to me and said that its not supposed to be out there if its not in a can. Furthermore that I am supposed to buy my own trash cans and not use his. Now I have lived in some very upscale communities where they make esthetic codes like this to make things look nicer, like all trash in trash cans but what about exceptions like moving in or spring cleaning where someone may have excess garbage? What am I supposed to do with my garbage? How can I find this out? If it wasnt sunday I would call my local municipal office but frankly, I dont even know who to call.

Any insight on this would be appreciated and/or if you now of any web sites. The main issue is the 2 week visitor thing. This is really aggrevating. I dont want to have to "check in" with my landlord everytime someone comes to stay for a little while. I just want to make sure my landlord can't use that against me in the future for like a eviction case or trying to withhold my security. (btw i read my 4 page small type lease and it doesnt state anythng about this stuff that I could see)
 
hey, we're like neighbors *waves* 😉

you're best off taking your contract to a laywer. but if there's nothing in the contract, you're on pretty good grounds.
 
Here in Cali the landlord can absolutely evict you if you have people staying more than 14 days. And they can require notification.

More people in an apartment = more use of services and the property. One person will generally use the plumbing, carpet, etc, less than 2 people. So it's reasonable to expect the number of people on the lease to not change.

Also, there's the "roommate effect". If you move a roomie in, suddenly there are 2 people to pay the rent. But if the new roommate flakes, you're scrambling to cover his/her share. Sometimes unsuccessfully. Landlords want their rent with no problems, and certainly don't want to be chasing roommates down to collect it.

It boils down to increased risk to the landlord. But most are super cool if you just let them know that you've got a friend staying for a few weeks or something, and they aren't permanent. Make sure, however, that the person really leaves...
 
Look in your contract.

If you stated that x people are going to be living in the unit and you have x+1 living, then you are in violation. Most places allow a 2 week visitor/vacation window.

Same as regarding the trash. See the contract. The landord may be doing a pre-emptive strike.
One shot move in may be tolerated for trash bag use, however, trash bins prevent a mess from being made.

You should be expected to provide your own bins, if they do not have them available. Make sure that you label the bins as yours and take them with you when you move out.
 
The answer to your questions will either fall under state law, or the specifics of your lease agreement. If not specific is in your agreement about these issues, your next step is to contact the state housing department and get a copy of the tenant/landlord laws. Most states have something online, or a booklet they will mail you.
 
For $2,000. per month, why not just buy a house?

I know the area you are in, and it is nice and all... but $24,000. per year can buy a pretty nice house and no one can tell you jack about who stays with you!!

🙂
 
I don't know about the trashcans but for the extra person for more than 2 weeks most places ask you to notify them. Its common courtesy anyway.
 
thanks for the replies.
As I said I read my lease and there is nothing in there that states this. I never knew about the 2 week thing and neither did my roomate and we have been in different apartments all over this area for 10 years. Anyways no big deal I told him my girlfriend is staying for about 2 weeks and no longer. She cant cuz she has a flight to catch anyways. As for the garbage I am buying a large garbage can anyways but I dont see how moving-in excess can't be an exception. Its not like we're gonna be producing 5 big bags of garbage every few days. In fact the garbage we put out was only 2 lawn bags and on the night before the garbage comes the next morning. I'm really just concerned about legalities since my landlord is kinda strange and makes me nervous. Even my real estate agent warned me that he's a bit of a pain in the A but the place was too nice for me to pass up.

As for the $2000 vs house thing, well I share this with 1 roomate (3 bedroom 2 baths). You cant buy any house around here for $2000/month anyways. Most of the brownstone or townhouses start at like $500k-700k. Would be nice to have a house though so I can set up my drums again. :brokenheart:
 
Regarding the person staying for 2 weeks, just don't tell him. But if it's in the lease agreement, then you would have to if you wanted to play by the rules.

As for the garbage, that's not the landlord's call. That's up to the city or subdivision. I'd call the local city government office and ask about any rules for putting out trash and such.
 
how to afford a house:

move to a cheaper place. save that rent money.

in one year, put a deposit down for a house. get financing if needed.

then set up drums and drum it up!!
 
houses are over-rated.

dakels, are you in a brownstone or one of the new high-rises? back when I worked in NYC, I almost moved into one of the high-rises. ended up quitting that job, though, and my current job is in the opposite direction 😉
 
Originally posted by: loki8481
houses are over-rated.

dakels, are you in a brownstone or one of the new high-rises? back when I worked in NYC, I almost moved into one of the high-rises. ended up quitting that job, though, and my current job is in the opposite direction 😉
Click to expand...

Houses are over-rated? You do understand that every time you give your landlord a $2000 check you are just giving money away and gaining no equity in the transaction, right?

Or are profit and equity overrated as well? 😛
 
In many states after someone spends so many days at a residence they technically live there. It's sometimes reffered to as "Common Law Residency". He may want to know about how long your GF will be staying with you in case that will come up, since it can complicate things.
 
Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Originally posted by: loki8481
houses are over-rated.

dakels, are you in a brownstone or one of the new high-rises? back when I worked in NYC, I almost moved into one of the high-rises. ended up quitting that job, though, and my current job is in the opposite direction 😉
Click to expand...

Houses are over-rated? You do understand that every time you give your landlord a $2000 check you are just giving money away and gaining no equity in the transaction, right?

Or is profit and equity overrated as well? 😛
Click to expand...

I think it's like this cult... where people who own houses think that they're the greatest thing in the world 😛

guess what? if my plumbing explodes, I don't have to pay thousands of dollars to fix it 😉

the really important thing, though, is that there's a life-style assosiated with owning a house. that lifestyle isn't for everyone, especially not while I'm still in my early 20's.
 
Originally posted by: KarenMarie
For $2,000. per month, why not just buy a house?

I know the area you are in, and it is nice and all... but $24,000. per year can buy a pretty nice house and no one can tell you jack about who stays with you!!

🙂
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by: loki8481
the really important thing, though, is that there's a life-style assosiated with owning a house. that lifestyle isn't for everyone, especially not while I'm still in my early 20's.
Click to expand...

That's why God invented condominiums.
 
Originally posted by: SuperTool
How about she stays for 13 days, then 1 night in a hotel or with other friends, then another 13 days? 😀
Click to expand...

lol now thats the ticket!

this is an old shot (notice towers 🙁 ) but its basically my neighborhood's water's edge. That park is about 2 blocks from my house. I almost bought a house before I moved in here but the house needed a new roof ($15k), new windows ($10k), new furnace ($5k), major floorwork ($5k), etc etc and was in a crappy neighborhood and further from manhattan. I dont like paying rent instead of a mortgage but hey you know the first 15 years of a mortgage is mainly interest to a bank? I'm in my mid twenties and single, I prefer 1 year leases over a 30-year mortgage right now 😉

btw I dont have a bad opinion of my landlord just because of this 2 week and garbage thing. I wouldnt judge someone so quick. He has done some really odd behavior which makes me nervous. He almost drove my real estate agent crazy with incessant calling and trying to ignore their policies... I just figure things would be ok since he said he is moving away soon and renting the first floor where he lives currently.

loki8481:
I was really adament to my real estate agent to find a house since I hate highrises and apartment buildings. I am in the top floor of a 3 family house, one of the few left in my neighborhood. The rest is all condos and highrises and a few brownstones left. My space is 3 bedroom 2 full bathrooms, large kitchen, dining, living room, sliding glass door to a small balcony about 5'x20', central air, and new everything. Its a great spot in a great neighborhood and I think the price is great considering. Houses/brownstones here range from $600k-1 million 😕 and most of the highrises have 2 bedrooms over $2,000. There are some nice loft spaces around but they go for $2,500+
 
Originally posted by: dakels
Originally posted by: SuperTool
How about she stays for 13 days, then 1 night in a hotel or with other friends, then another 13 days? 😀
Click to expand...

lol now thats the ticket!

this is an old shot (notice towers 🙁 ) but its basically my neighborhood's water's edge. That park is about 2 blocks from my house. I almost bought a house before I moved in here but the house needed a new roof ($15k), new windows ($10k), new furnace ($5k), major floorwork ($5k), etc etc and was in a crappy neighborhood and further from manhattan. I dont like paying rent instead of a mortgage but hey you know the first 15 years of a mortgage is mainly interest to a bank? I'm in my mid twenties and single, I prefer 1 year leases over a 30-year mortgage right now 😉

btw I dont have a bad opinion of my landlord just because of this 2 week and garbage thing. I wouldnt judge someone so quick. He has done some really odd behavior which makes me nervous. He almost drove my real estate agent crazy with incessant calling and trying to ignore their policies... I just figure things would be ok since he said he is moving away soon and renting the first floor where he lives currently.

loki8481:
I was really adament to my real estate agent to find a house since I hate highrises and apartment buildings. I am in the top floor of a 3 family house, one of the few left in my neighborhood. The rest is all condos and highrises and a few brownstones left. My space is 3 bedroom 2 full bathrooms, large kitchen, dining, living room, sliding glass door to a small balcony about 5'x20', central air, and new everything. Its a great spot in a great neighborhood and I think the price is great considering. Houses/brownstones here range from $600k-1 million 😕 and most of the highrises have 2 bedrooms over $2,000. There are some nice loft spaces around but they go for $2,500+
Click to expand...


Wow, should have done some shopping around on the prices! 15K for a new roof is pretty steep, unless it needs some major work done on it. (not that I haven't heard of contractors quoting prices like that on jobs they don't want to do... but for every person I know who's had a quote of 15K, they've also gotten quotes of 5 or 6k before they contracted out the job.) And, 10K for windows :Q (oh, unless you're getting that stuff done by one of the high pressure sales companies that makes home visits to suggest prices for such.)
 
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