I lived in the basement of a private house for little over a year. It was def an illegal apartment, he never fixed anything, there was mold coming through the walls. I had floods he never helped with, a water bug and a rodent problem. I paid him in cash, no written or email lease ever, and utilities were included. I paid rent at the end of the month as opposed to the beginning. Due to circumstances beyond my control I had to leave the apartment at the end of December and I don't have the money for the lasts months rent. He is now harassing me, saying he has my social # and he is going to report me to his friend who is with some credit agency. Can he really do anything since I had no lease?

If you're absolutely positive that it was an illegal apartment, and if you have any receipts for the rent you paid, then you can tell him if he tries to report you to a credit agency then you'll report him to the Dept. of Buildings and the Dept. of Health for having an illegal apartment and he'll have to refund all of the rent to you.

For one thing it would be good if you can somehow get pictures of the conditions especially the mold.

You lived in those conditions without complaint so that could be something that works against you.

If you had no lease I really don't see what he can do about getting money.

If he reports you to a credit company insist on disputing it.

With black mold you can report him to the board of health, building inspectors and other agencies for illegally renting out an unhealthy place.

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Originally Posted by LisaB4657

If you're absolutely positive that it was an illegal apartment, and if you have any receipts for the rent you paid, then you can tell him if he tries to report you to a credit agency then you'll report him to the Dept. of Buildings and the Dept. of Health for having an illegal apartment and he'll have to refund all of the rent to you.

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I believe I have one receipt when I paid him a money order but I always just paid cash and didn't get receipts cause I'm a jerk. The basement was a fire hazard, only one way out. I did have a backyard but it was blocked by other back yards all around it. I also believe a bolier room door has to be steel and this one was wood, right next to my door. If I am not mistaken I believe there were only two meters as well. I will check with the dept of buildings though. Thank you.

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Originally Posted by N0help4u

For one thing it would be good if you can somehow get pictures of the conditions especially the mold.

You lived in those conditions without complaint so that could be something that works against you.

If you had no lease I really don't see what he can do about getting money.

If he reports you to a credit company insist on disputing it.

With black mold you can report him to the board of health, building inspectors and other agencies for illegally renting out an unhealthy place.

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Thank you

Can he report you for non paymet, of course he can if you owe him money and did not pay.
You have a verbal agreement for rental.

Just being a slum does not make it an illegal apartment, in fact many places allow a tenant in any single family home ( one)

So the illegal part may or ma not be a fact

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

Can he report you for non paymet, of course he can if you owe him money and did not pay.
You have a verbal agreement for rental.

Just being a slum does not make it an illegal apartment, in fact many places allow a tennant in any single family home ( one)

So the illegal part may or ma not be a fact

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That was part of my question, with no lease am I obligated to give him anything.. I was unsure is a verbal agreement held any weight.

What was your verbal agreement to how long you would stay? Did you tell him you would stay until like Feb 09 or what? What was your verbal agreement on a notice to leave?
With black mold the landlord is to have 30 day written notice to fix the problem but I would still report him for the conditions of the building.

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Originally Posted by N0help4u

What was your verbal agreement to how long you would stay? Did you tell him you would stay until like Feb 09 or what?

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No, it was month to month.