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Can a landlord ask this? (1 Viewer)

R

RokNRole

Footballguy
I'm considering renting a room soon but one thing the potential new landlord asked makes me uneasy.

They asked that no tenants receive mail at the residence. The reason given was because a previous tenant 5 years ago was using the address to conduct mail fraud and the FBI investigated the home.

I would imagine this is not a request a landlord could legally enforce in any way. If I live there I should be able to get mail, both for convenience and to protect myself to prove my occupancy.

There are 6 renters on the property plus the two landlords. I have not seen a lease yet, nor would I take the property without a lease, and I doubt this is something they could even put in a lease.

Can a landlord ask this?

Is the request too sketchy and I should just start looking elsewhere?

 
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Legally, I have no idea.  I wouldn't even think that far, though.  Simply making the request would be strange enough for me to move on.

 
Is this like a voyeur house or a BigBrother type spinoff?

It sounds like you will be renting a room in an illegal rooming house and the owner(s) are trying to hide it either from their lender or the city.  If u like the situation, I don't see why u wouldn't take the room anyways.  Besides, it may give you leverage down the road, if they try anything shady.

 
NFL-ons said:
Is this like a voyeur house or a BigBrother type spinoff?

It sounds like you will be renting a room in an illegal rooming house and the owner(s) are trying to hide it either from their lender or the city.  If u like the situation, I don't see why u wouldn't take the room anyways.  Besides, it may give you leverage down the road, if they try anything shady.
Click to expand...
What sort of leverage?

 
RokNRole said:
What sort of leverage?
Click to expand...
Like just stop paying your rent and dare them to throw you out leverage.  They obviously don't want anyone to know they're renting to you so what are they going to do?  Also make sure to post here when you do it, preferably on a Friday.  

 
Say down the road you are uncomfortable with the situation.  You might possibly be able to extort them with the threat of notifying the entities who might have issue with their arrangement.

 
Ignoratio Elenchi said:
Like just stop paying your rent and dare them to throw you out leverage.  They obviously don't want anyone to know they're renting to you so what are they going to do?  Also make sure to post here when you do it, preferably on a Friday.  
Click to expand...
I wouldn't take the room without signing a lease though. I'm not looking for an illegal dwelling situation.

 
Ignoratio Elenchi said:
Like just stop paying your rent and dare them to throw you out leverage.  They obviously don't want anyone to know they're renting to you so what are they going to do?  Also make sure to post here when you do it, preferably on a Friday.  
Click to expand...
had this exact scenario play out in a space i was renting in Hoboken many years ago ... once one of the tenants got wind of the illegal zoning, she stopped paying rent ... went on for over a year before it went to court - landlord was found guilty, and the sheriff was there next day padlocking the mofo.

chick got the #### over ... dunno why i didn't follow suit   :(

 
otb_lifer said:
had this exact scenario play out in a space i was renting in Hoboken many years ago ... once one of the tenants got wind of the illegal zoning, she stopped paying rent ... went on for over a year before it went to court - landlord was found guilty, and the sheriff was there next day padlocking the mofo.

chick got the #### over ... dunno why i didn't follow suit   :(
Click to expand...
How can you find out if it's an illegal apartment?

 
Unless there are individual locked mailboxes I wouldn't want my mail going there anyway. PO box

 
RokNRole said:
How can you find out if it's an illegal apartment?
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not sure of the particulars, but that C### pressed it hardcore ... was kinda obvious, though - 6 people renting what was basically a  2 bdrm duplex   :shrug:

she told the landlord she was ceasing rent payments 'cause the gig was illegal ... never really asked her about the details because she was a major dbag, but, she WON.

 
Chemical X said:
you go back and forth a bit.  are you renting a room from someone or are you renting an apartment?
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A room. 3 rentals in the apartment.

Go back and forth?

edit. It's a 3 floor home. The landlords live on the ground floor and they rent out 3 bedrooms in both the basement and second floor. So 6 room rentals altogether.

 
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RokNRole said:
A room. 3 rentals in the apartment.

Go back and forth?

edit. It's a 3 floor home. The landlords live on the ground floor and they rent out 3 bedrooms in both the basement and second floor. So 6 room rentals altogether.
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Man, that's a lot of mail.

 
I assume he is operating an illegal boarding house.  boarding houses are regulated, but I don't know the specifics from area to area.  lease wise, I think they go week to week. 

 
Chemical X said:
I assume he is operating an illegal boarding house.  boarding houses are regulated, but I don't know the specifics from area to area.  lease wise, I think they go week to week. 
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I was quoted a monthly rent. Not weekly and they asked how long of a lease I would like.

btw is a couple that owns the home and I'm dealing with the woman.

 
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bananafish said:
I would pass on this place unless you are particularly in love with the area or you can't afford anything else. Plus with eight people chances are high for some drama and it just seems sketchy.

If you're just looking to rent a room I recommend Roomates.com for weeding out the Craigslist-type riffraff and finding a decent place. I've used it several times with good results and have recommended it to several people who had good results as well. I think it costs $20 to post but free to peruse. Was well worth it for me.
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Thank you I will look in to this.

Is it free for me to respond to the ads?

 
RokNRole said:
I'm considering renting a room soon but one thing the potential new landlord asked makes me uneasy.

They asked that no tenants receive mail at the residence. The reason given was because a previous tenant 5 years ago was using the address to conduct mail fraud and the FBI investigated the home.

I would imagine this is not a request a landlord could legally enforce in any way. If I live there I should be able to get mail, both for convenience and to protect myself to prove my occupancy.

There are 6 renters on the property plus the two landlords. I have not seen a lease yet, nor would I take the property without a lease, and I doubt this is something they could even put in a lease.

Can a landlord ask this?

Is the request too sketchy and I should just start looking elsewhere?
Click to expand...
YOu are moving into a place with 8 strangers and you are worried whether or not you can receive mail there?  I think you have much larger problems to deal with.

 
sbonomo said:
The fact you're living with 8 people you don't know???????  Get a PO box - it will cost you nothing and if you are living in a half way house, something tells me that is not long-term. 
Click to expand...
It's not 8 people. It's only two others renting rooms on that floor. It's a 3 apartment home.

what was unclear about that?

 
RokNRole said:
It's not 8 people. It's only two others renting rooms on that floor. It's a 3 apartment home.

what was unclear about that?
Click to expand...
You mentioned one property not three apartment's.  Communal living is a very popular new trend in SF and becoming moreso in LA.  Yes it is strange that for a distinct apartment you cannot get your mail.  Move on.   

 
so he wants no evidence of mail being delivered there, to avoid claiming tenants, to avoid paying taxes on it.

Is this difficult to understand?

 
RokNRole said:
Don't know the place is pretty strict

no mail, no cooking, no noise, no guests, no sex, no drinking,no smoking, no drugs, no snoring, etc
Click to expand...
Why would you even consider living there? Based on the above list you could only breathe there and it would have to be done quietly. 

 
RokNRole said:
Don't know the place is pretty strict

no mail, no cooking, no noise, no guests, no sex, no drinking,no smoking, no drugs, no snoring, etc
Click to expand...
Be honest.  You're going into some sort of halfway house, right?

 
northern exposure said:
Why would you even consider living there? Based on the above list you could only breathe there and it would have to be done quietly. 
Click to expand...
I was kidding about the rules list

the only weird thing was the mail

 
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