LL making me move out 4 a day cuz of HER sec 8 inspection?!?

When we first got our apt in January 08, with our NewBorn all was very nice and well,
Then in May of '08 we were told about some inspection they were having on the house and we needed to clean up and make it seemed like weren't living there... they were very vauge with us, but DH finally pressured them to tell us why (a few days b4 this inspection was happening)

Turns our because they are on Sec 8, there can't be any other ppl living in the house, if the gov. finds out that there are other ppl they can lose their sec. 8.

So we basicly didn't wanna cause them a problem, not to mention we had just signed a contract and truth is, we didn't have any other place to move. (it took us 5M to find our apt, and we didn't wanna move back into my in laws again!).

I was VERY bothered that the LD was not upfront from the get go and "forgot" to tell us about this when signed with them.

We are not coming up to the 4th inspection and I've had enough!!! DH is a much more patient, and nicer a person then I am, because despite the fact that last Feb (2011) I had a baby, he was still willing to move out for that day last March when it was time for the inspection - (last year it was in March instead of May or April like the previous years).

I'll admit that we have a pretty good price for the place we're living in, but our neighborhood is not a very good one, not a very frum neighborhood, and the bad element around here is just getting worse.

So this year I'm putting my foot down. Since the inspection is coming up, and we haven't yet found a place to move out to, I still feel like I have to move out (even though I KNOW I don't have to at all, and I'm doing it totally as a favor for another yid)

but I'm asking my LL for compensation. What is reasonable? a half a month's rent or a whole month's rent off... at this point it's not easy at all for me, with a 3 yr old and a 1 yrs old.... (it was NEVER easy and a pain in the *** but we didn't expect to still be here at this point)

They have been making a pretty penny form their sec. 8, for the past 4 years because we were willing to be nice and move out, and I haven't' seen anything in return from them. (except last year, they gave us a Nut platter from Oh-Nuts b4 shabbos w/ a thank you note for our cooperation)

please let me know what you think.

I think they should for sure compensate for you doing them a big favor. Does she realize what a big thing it is to move out with two babies? Perhaps she should pay for a hotel room and you can go there?
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Gold Member Joined: Dec 17 2007 Posts: 1880

IANAL, but I would be concerned about the fact that you are aiding them in defrauding the government... Forget the inconvenience of moving out, this a larger issue of whether you are willing to be complicit in this. From a legal perspective, if they are caught, what happens to you - is there civil or criminal liability? Moreover, you think the landlady will continue giving you discounted rent if she loses her section 8? Want to be evicted while dealing with those potential legal issues? Didn't think so. So I would skedaddle anyway.

Not to mention the chilul hashem and how dirty it makes the rest of us feel that people keep committing fraud and thinking it's just dandy.

Posted under my name because this grinds my gears.
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No kids. No comment.

Gold Member Joined: Sep 13 2010 Posts: 2113

what their doing is illegal so you have higher bargaining power then you think. for sure make some demands. its total chutzpah what they are doing

Diamond Member Joined: Sep 17 2009 Posts: 3950

Make landlord pay for a cleaning service so it looks like its not used. This is not your problem. What the landlord is doing is illegal and personally I would move.

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48145

I also would leave.

Gold Member Joined: Apr 16 2005 Posts: 1943

I would not want to help other people commit fraud. I'd move as soon as I could.
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Binah

Gold Member Joined: Jul 25 2011 Posts: 1520

I agree with those saying it's aiding and abetting a serious crime - one that could possibly endanger your family, not to mention is ethically questionable and goes against our mission as Jews to be an ohr l'non jews and obey at least dinei d'malchusa.

But if you can't move out immediately, I would accept no less than for them to pay for a cleaning crew and your hotel room for when they expect you to be gone. Even if they do that, that's a huge and unacceptable inconvenience to pay as a tenant.
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Gold Member Joined: Sep 12 2011 Posts: 1924

Has it occurred to you that the apartment is altogether illegal regardless of this section 8 fraud?

OP here, It's built legally, it's just not legal for them to have a tenant.... we're looking for a different place, but in my area it's not so easy...

I don't get involved in other ppl's legalitys, but when it starts to effect me, it's an entirely different story, which is why we're looking........ Hypnotized

Silver Member Joined: Apr 26 2010 Posts: 982 Location: NJ

Slightly different perspective, though I do agree with alot of what's been said:
I'm not discussing the legalities or morality of the whole thing-others have done a good job of that.
I think you could have asked for compensation the first year because they didn't tell you about it before you signed your lease, but now that's it's the fourth year & you knew this was coming when you stayed on, I think you lost your chance. I think it would be like them coming to you in the middle of lease and saying, "It's really inconvient for us to have tenants this month so if you want to stay we will be charging an extra $X." I understand that it is hard for you to find a new place but if you wanted compensation for 'helping' with the inspection, you should have told them that when you renewed your lease.
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Scheme to defraud.

You say you are a "straight shooter" but that is not the case at all! You are enabling them to defraud the government. Have you ever asked a shaila (or thought for yourself, really) that there is a serious problem with this?
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ask your heathcare provider, pharmacist, or LOR

Asking for "compensation" may come off as bribery, and may entangle you with your LL's fraudulent activities.

Platinum Member Joined: Nov 04 2008 Posts: 7915

You'd better move. No one will be interested in your story if they're caught.
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Silver Member Joined: May 15 2007 Posts: 935

Asking for money sounds like a mafia shakedown. Just get out as soon as you can.

Moderator Joined: Aug 14 2005 Posts: 4540 Location: Ohio