[boricuasheart]

The city is making us move out by the 13th. They already took our stove out and won't let us use the microwave (its ours so they didn't take it). The inspector said that it needs to be gone by the 12th but we can not use it to cook any food whatsoever. So we have been eating out for all of our meals but its getting expensive. I did speak to a legal aid lawyer and he said we could sue for the cost of our food. But my question is, is the landlord required to pay for all of our food costs until we move?

We live with our landlord but he is refusing to let us cook upstairs in the kitchen. He's been causing us a lot of drama since he was reported to the city. Things that have happened:

Our toddler fell and had to be taken to the hospital for stitches, since I called 911, the police, ambulance and fire dept came. One of the police officers that came called the city about us living in the illegal basement apt. When we got home from the hospital, the landlord told us we need to move our stuff upstairs into one of the bedrooms until we move out. We agreed. 2 days later his wife blamed us for calling the city and told us to move out. I said no because we have a lease and its doeant work that way. The next day I noticed our stash of money missing ( NEVER again will I keep money in the house NEVER!). Confronted the landlord and his wife and they both tried to deny it but there were so many holes in their story that I tripped them up and they admitted taking it cause her mother is sick with cancer and they have a lot of bills because of it. Well I threatned to call the cops and report them and they begged (literly on their knees) for me not to because they are illegal and feared deportation. I didn't care what their situation was, I was dead set on reporting them. But my husband felt sorry for them and stopped me after they agreed to pay it back by the end of the month.

So tension filled the hoouse after that point. Every time we asked for the money he would give us an excuse and then swear to give it to us at the end of that week. Well by the last week of June I had had enough of the exuses and demanded payment on the 30th or he was getting reported to the cops. Well Landlord called the city inspector and fed him lies about us being violent and refusing to move out. City inspector came over that same day threatening to forcibly remove us from the house and charge us $750 per day for refusing to move. I called a lawyer needless to say and was told we could stay until we had an eviction notice from the city. Since his little stunt to force us out didn't work he called the cops on us 3 more times within the last week. For stupid things to no avail. We're looking for another place to stay and working on our civil suit against him. If we have to go to a hotel can we include that into the suit? And that about the food expenses since we have no stove and no way to cook? Can that be included too?

[ScottGem]

Yes you can sue the landlord for any costs you incur because they leased you an illegal apartment.

Whether you can collect or not, or even win your suit is another question. There is a good chance of winning, but it's not a slam dunk. Make sure you document everything.

[JudyKayTee]

Did you know it was an illegal apartment when you moved in?

[boricuasheart]

No not at all.