Rental code enforcement for N. Hempstead, complaints (Hope: section 8, apartment)

[allnotes2]

My landlord does not fix water leaks, cracked drywall, peeling paint, missing sink drains, loose stones on steps, rotted wood retaining wall and other issues. I want to file a formal complaint. Owner refused to help with mice issue.
Damp, musty basement that I suspect has mold.

For North Hempstead, north shore location in a single family home. Please advise.

[nuts2uiam]

Ok so let's start with the basics. Are you living in the basement? Is it a legal rental? Does it have a separate entrance? Electric meter? Gas meter? Mailbox? Cable box? Doorbell? Smoke & Carbon monoxide detectors?

Typically, illegal rentals have none of the above. Now, if you are annoyed about the above and have a lease for a legal place it will be better, but don't think either way you are going to send the town a letter and it will be fixed in a nano second. You stand a better chance of it be addressed quicker if you are in a legal apt than in an illegal one, BUT, either way you are in a no win situation.

If it is illegal, prepare to moving out as soon as you can, if you can't live with the described conditions. Yeah, you can rat him out but that will only punish him and you still need a place to live. If it is legal and those are the conditions, he will be required to fix them, but again, he can be miserable to you til the term of he lease is up.

[RPC324]

Understand that if conditions are truly deplorable, you also run the risk of the living space being condemned as uninhabitable (Unfit for Human Occupancy). It's not an eviction, but there is a chance you will be unable to occupy the space until conditions are corrected. Be prepared to stay elsewhere for awhile. If the living space is indeed non-permitted, then the landlord is more likely to remove the apartment entirely while processing your eviction. He or she will face fines and the cost of work, but the most likely scenario is that the apartment is removed, not a quick fix of conditions.

[allnotes2]

This is a legal home for rent- single family with a lease, that is not kept up when things fall apart. I am moving so I want to report this for a record of home problems that are not because of anything I did. Last month and security deposit is at risk and I think an escrow account should be opened with the last month rent that is held until repairs are made.
Please advise, or will I need a lawyer?
Who is the government agency that I should lodge the complaint with?

[RPC324]

Unless you are receiving rental funding through a governmental program (like HUD/Section 8) then this is a civil matter. Towns don't get involved in the terms of your lease. If brought to the unit, assuming they even get involved, all that would happen is them noting the condition of the place, not assigning blame to an owner or tenant because it's impossible to prove who did what.

[twingles]

The town doesn't care about your landlord's maintenance, or lack thereof. Do you think the town comes around checks homeowner's houses to make sure they don't have peeling paint and rickety steps? Please.

You're worried about getting your security deposit back? Hope you took video when you moved in and put all your complaints in writing as you went along.

[94nasupra]

I believe Small claims court is where you go if you don’t get the security deposit back. You can call and ask.

But sounds like your moving and were told you aren’t getting your deposit back and your reaching for things. A damp basement you suspect has mold means nothing unless there’s evidence. Peeling paint and water drips the town as said above doesn’t care about.

[tj2013]

well sounds like you should just move out put on your big girl panties and you could do all the housework, maintenance and repairs to the standards that YOU want. Enjoy!