Illegal apartments are more common than legal departments these days. There
are many people who do rent illegal basement or semi basement apartments. By
the law they shouldn't be but unless someone has already complained about
the apartment then the town or county does not know the apt exists.
Can a landlord collect rent on an illegal apartment?
Depending on what state you live in the answer will depend, In some states
and counties the answer is if the tenant did not know the apartment was illegal
then the landlord could not collect rent and in some other counties the landlord
is entitled to rent as long as he has a tenant occupying the apartment.
Can I still great evicted from an illegal apartment?
Yes, even though it is an illegal apartment, you do not have the right to live
somewhere for free if you live in one of those landlord has no right to collect
rent states. If you did not know that the apartment was illegal you can report
it to the town and they will send an agent there to fine the owners of the home.
The landlord refuses to give me back my security claiming he was never
supposed to rent an illegal apartment, what can I do?
You can sue him, whether it is an illegal apartment he has no legal right to
keep your deposit. If you haven't already, report him to the town for
an illegal apartment.
Can I call the Sheriff if the tenants are not out after the courts
orders them out?
Yes, however it will cost you a couple of hundreds of dollars in some states.
Most people cannot move into a new apartment until the first of the month so
give the tenants to the first before spending money on a Sheriff's office.
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