We are being neglected and mistreated...

[jazzi]

Hi. My name is Donna. I live in an apartment building in Brooklyn New York. We have been here since July, 2009. A week after we moved in, the ceiling in the bathroom started falling in due to a leak. The paint on the walls looked as it was melting. Eventually the ceiling started falling in. I made several calls to the rent office, took pictures of the ceiling, the walls and all the water on the bathroom floor. They eventually sent a guy to fix it. All he did was patch up the ceiling. The next day, the ceiling was caving in again and the water was dripping. It is now November, and the ceiling is still leaking. It has now spread and has gotten worse. Now the stove, a Frigidaire gas stove that plugs in the wall is not working. All it does is beep and display an F10 code when I press bake. It does cook on top. They are renting this apartment as a 2 bedroom when in fact, the second bedroom is not even big enough to put a bed and dresser in. The kitchen is in the so called living room and the stove is right in front of the radiator. The heating pipe is also right next to the gas stove. You can tell they ripped this aprtment up and tried to make it into a 2 bedroom, when in fact it isn't. I would like to know is it legal to have a leak for so long and nothing properly done about it? Nothing in here has been taken care of the way it should be. I need help. I am from Georgia, so I do not know too much about the guidelines here in NY. How big should a bedroom be in norder to classified as a bedroom? Can someone poease help me with these questions???? Thank you kindly in advance.

[Flying Cloud]

Hi Donna ...

Your first call should be to the Department of Health. They should send an investigator out to inspect the problem. Your landlord will probably get a violation. However this might not help you. You can also put your landlord on notice that you intend to fix the problem and deduct the cost of the repairs from the rent. This should be done in writing and should be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. A copy should also go to the Health Department and also to the Department of Housing at HUD.

A room can only be called a bedroom if it has a closet. Does your room have one?

Good luck ... I know how tough and unsanitary this must all be.