I do not understand why almost every apartment in Nassau is Illegal!!!!!
Does anyone else see issues with this???
How on earth does anyone find an apartment for a reasonable amount that doesn't require complete and utter secrecy?
ARGH!!!!!
jannshari
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Avoid basement apartments. Each and every basement apartment is illegal. The only way to guarantee legality is to avoid apartments within someone's home, i.e., deal only with apartment buildings. Otherwise, feel free to call the town's building department prior to renting and verify whether there is a valid certificate of occupancy on file for the premises.
chmlengr
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
.... unless you find an apartment in the upper part of a house. I lived in the upstairs of an older couple's house and their's was a permitted mother daughter, so it was legal. I lived in my apartment from 1995-2001 and paid only $650/mo, utilities included!! It was a dream apartment.
since there is such a housing shortage in Nassau...they look the other way...
jannshari
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Technically, mother/daughter situations are literally meant for that purpose (although most other family situations will be OK). But yes, legally, it's usually not a problem, but like I said, the only surefire way of making sure it's legal is to avoid apartments in houses unless you've checked with the town first. (Believe me, they don't always look the other way.)
Lisa Rose
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Posted by chmlengr
.... unless you find an apartment in the upper part of a house. I lived in the upstairs of an older couple's house and their's was a permitted mother daughter, so it was legal. I lived in my apartment from 1995-2001 and paid only $650/mo, utilities included!! It was a dream apartment.
I had the same situation and I loved it!! the rent and space was wonderful!!
Kelly9904
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
I know numerous people who have or currently do live in 'illegal' apts, that said, only one ever had an issue. When the house was being re assessed, my firends had to pack up some stuff (mainly pictures and knick knacks) and the homeowner said it was a neice staying with them. They never heard another word abou it .
Honestly, its just the way of the world so to speak. You probably wont find as good a deal in any complex as you will in a private house.
Good Luck
MarcellaBella
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Posted by PrincessRose
I do not understand why almost every apartment in Nassau is Illegal!!!!!
Does anyone else see issues with this???
How on earth does anyone find an apartment for a reasonable amount that doesn't require complete and utter secrecy?
ARGH!!!!!
What is it about it being illegal that bothers you exactly?
Lisa Rose
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Why exactly do you need to keep it secret? I lived in an apt that was the top floor of a house. I had my own phone, own cable, and even applied for a parking permit at the train station and nothing was ever said. I do not think the house was zoned for a 2 family and I never had a problem.
Teri
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
I agree - no basement apt is legal, but there are a ton of building apts throughout the county, in different towns....Mineola, Williston Park, Great Neck, Long Beach, just to name a few.
The problem is, they're not that cheap!
papabear
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Illegal apartments are a nuisance because there is the potential of you losing the apartment quickly. As a renter you have no rights because any paper you sign for a lease or otherwise is about as good as toilet paper. If a neighbor complains, you could end up on the streets. I would imagine that the town would tend to look the other way but then again, a nice hefty fine could line the cash strapped pockets of Nassau pretty fast.
PrincessRose
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
What is it that bothers me, exactly?
PapaBear pretty much nailed it, aside from the fact that an illegal apartment is, by definition, Illegal.
What I don't understand is that no one seems to have an issue with the word illegal when linked to an apartment. I had never heard of such a thing before moving to Long Island, and I hope I'm never subjected to it again.
For example: The other day a Garbage Truck decided it didn't like driving on the right hand side of the road, and swerved into the left (aka the lane I was currently driving in). I had to swerve to miss it, and since the road was slightly wet, I lost control of my car and almost got in an accident anyway. The driver of the truck didn't really seem to care that he was suddenly drivng like the british. But a person without a legal residence can't call to complain.
Everyone keeps telling me that these places are the best way to go, but I simply have moral issues about it. I especially hate that Landlords require Cash for my rent every month. My FH and I would have run to the ATM together so we can each take out half and then search the apartment for an envelope, when a Check would've done quite nicely. There are just a million things about it that I can't stand.
For goodness sake, I'm afraid to post about it on here! LOL
palebride
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
i odn't blame you - i wouldn't want to livein someplace termed 'illegal' either. for moral reasons, mostly, but also because of a fear that it is, in fact, illegal. a large percentage of people living in illegal apartments, probably never have a problem......but i would constantly be worried that i would be in that small percentage that DID have a problem. Personally, I don't think it's worth the stress! Good luck!!
jannshari
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Posted by PrincessRose
But a person without a legal residence can't call to complain.
I'm sorry, but you're wrong about that. If you filed a complaint about something illegal that happened with the police, they wouldn't check into the legal status of your residence. The only agency that would have any police power over illegal apartments is the building department of the town in which you live.
That being said, your other concerns about illegal apartments are very much valid, and legal or illegal, landlords are required to give you a receipt for your rent, especially where you pay cash, and you are entitled to withhold your rent until they do so. IMO, illegal apartments are generally not worth the trouble that can arise from your use of the premises. I've seen it way too often...nearly every day of my life. Your complaint should not be so much about the abundance of illegal apartments, but the lack of affordable housing in Nassau County.
cooky11111
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Illegal apartments are usually much less expensive then legal ones. I owned a house with a legal apartment in it and it is a pain to get the permit and also expensive. (If the windows aren't big enough you need to change them, if you converted any space you need to get a CO and if you don't have two exits you need to put in a new door etc...) I also lived in illegal ones before I owned my house and I was always calling the police about street kids starting trouble. You can still make calls like that the police or garbage trucks are not going to look to see if it is a legal apartment they are just going to take the complaint.
PrincessRose
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Well, it's good to know that I can still make complaints. Also, my complaint mainly IS about the lack of affordable (legal) housing in Nassau. If there was enough affordable housing, the illegal apartments wouldn't bother me at all. But because Illegal apartments are the only affordable housing, they incur my wrath, as it were.
MarcellaBella
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Posted by PrincessRose
What is it that bothers me, exactly?
PapaBear pretty much nailed it, aside from the fact that an illegal apartment is, by definition, Illegal.
What I don't understand is that no one seems to have an issue with the word illegal when linked to an apartment. I had never heard of such a thing before moving to Long Island, and I hope I'm never subjected to it again.
For example: The other day a Garbage Truck decided it didn't like driving on the right hand side of the road, and swerved into the left (aka the lane I was currently driving in). I had to swerve to miss it, and since the road was slightly wet, I lost control of my car and almost got in an accident anyway. The driver of the truck didn't really seem to care that he was suddenly drivng like the british. But a person without a legal residence can't call to complain.
Everyone keeps telling me that these places are the best way to go, but I simply have moral issues about it. I especially hate that Landlords require Cash for my rent every month. My FH and I would have run to the ATM together so we can each take out half and then search the apartment for an envelope, when a Check would've done quite nicely. There are just a million things about it that I can't stand.
For goodness sake, I'm afraid to post about it on here! LOL
wow... you're just about the only person I've ever heard of with such a big take on this issue..
Why can't you complain about the garbage truck?
BTW, I know of alot of people who are landlords and they take checks.
KarenK122
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
I have lived in illegal apartments for many years and actually my parents had one while I was in college.
Costs on LI are crazy and if a homeowner can catch a break but renting out a room or two I say go for it. The renter benefits also because the rent is usually cheaper by many hundreds and lots of times utilities are included. You also don't have to worry about a formal lease (most of the time).
Paying by cash isn't an issue. Just make sure to ask for a reciept whenever you pay so you have proof of payment. I can totally understand not wanting checks, because checks bounce.
Also you do not need to have a legal residence to complain about the driving of a garbage truck. The office doesn't even need to know where you live at all.
my sister lived in an illegal apt and she refused to pay cash...she wrote out a check to 'CASH' the LLs really didn't have a choice but to take it...you could also do a money order...and the PO can use a debit card...
papabear
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Re: Apartments in Nassau (VENT and question)
Posted by PrincessRose
What I don't understand is that no one seems to have an issue with the word illegal when linked to an apartment. I had never heard of such a thing before moving to Long Island, and I hope I'm never subjected to it again.
Well I know you aren't from Long Island but I am also assuming you might be from overseas (just an assumption). Nonetheless, your gripe reminds me of when I was working with an exchange accountant from Australia. My roommate and I were discussing his recent speeding ticket and how his plea in court allowed him to have it reduced to a broken taillight, zero points and a $100 fine. Our friend from down under was baffled by the fact that US Court system would allow you to do such a thing and she felt that if you do the crime, you pay the price for that crime.
Nassau County has tons of problems. I can't imagine that homeowners will want to legalize their apartments, especially when it means that their real estate taxes will increase - not after this reassessment of this reassessment of this reassessment.
Best thing to do - get the frig out of LI. You can get gorgeous apartment in other big cities where they are hungry for renters - offering deep discounts and three bedrooms starting at $600. Of course part of the reason is because home prices down there are dirt cheap and cost of living is lower. But you also probably have more courteous trash collectors.
