Need Help with Short-term apartment in Manhattan.
May 28, 2013 3:36 PM Subscribe
My friend is in a major jam. His landlord has told him this past Friday that he must vacate his apartment by May 31st. Three of the five roommates are moving and there is no option to stay because if any one person stays even one day, everyone will lose their deposit.
He has found an apartment to move to, but it won't be ready until June 15. Can anyone recommend an inexpensive option for him to rent for the two weeks, or any good resources for identifying possible places to stay?
This doesn't directly help your question, but has your friend sought legal advice? According to this, NYC requires both landlords and tenants to give one month notice before terminating a month-to-month lease --- in other words, both the landlord and the roommates may be trampling your friend's rights.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 4:38 PM on May 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 4:38 PM on May 28, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'd definitely advise him to look very carefully at his lease. Usually either party has to provide at least 30 days notice. He might get the landlord to pay for a hotel or at least a storage facility for two weeks (and he could crash at a friend's).
posted by radioamy at 4:50 PM on May 28, 2013
posted by radioamy at 4:50 PM on May 28, 2013
Best answer: I might - MIGHT - be able to help. Check your memail in a minute.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:53 PM on May 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:53 PM on May 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
He should check with a lawyer or NYC tenant's association. One week notice does not sound legal.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:56 PM on May 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 4:56 PM on May 28, 2013 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: To answer the legal questions, I know it is illegal. I just can't convince him to fight this because he would have to convince the four other roommates to fight along side and that isn't going to happen. Especially when three of the roommates are women who are moving in with their boyfriends and just want to get out with their security deposits.
posted by Yellow at 5:23 PM on May 28, 2013
posted by Yellow at 5:23 PM on May 28, 2013
EmpressCallipygos: "I might - MIGHT - be able to help. Check your memail in a minute."
Haha, I was going to say just wait a couple minutes and one of the vast number of NYC mefites will chime in to help.
Nthing the storage locker the stuff for a month and couchsurf/hostel/occasional hotel/inflatable mattress for two weeks. Just don't try and crash in the locker, from what I'm told, they don't like that.
posted by Sphinx at 5:23 PM on May 28, 2013
Haha, I was going to say just wait a couple minutes and one of the vast number of NYC mefites will chime in to help.
Nthing the storage locker the stuff for a month and couchsurf/hostel/occasional hotel/inflatable mattress for two weeks. Just don't try and crash in the locker, from what I'm told, they don't like that.
posted by Sphinx at 5:23 PM on May 28, 2013
Airbnb or offer to house sit. Couch surfing, it will suck, but it's only two weeks.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:33 PM on May 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:33 PM on May 28, 2013 [1 favorite]
He might look into doing a two week sublet.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:45 PM on May 28, 2013
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 5:45 PM on May 28, 2013
How much are the deposits worth? He has the ability to cost his roommates all their deposits with no effort. They should be highly motivated to help him find somewhere else for himself and his stuff before may 31st. If they're not, stay there.
posted by jacalata at 6:43 PM on May 28, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by jacalata at 6:43 PM on May 28, 2013 [7 favorites]
Does he have any friends in the area? I've been in this exact situation several times, and most of them I ended up just crashing on a couple friends couches in succession with all my stuff in storage.
I would definitely try the storage unit + that with a note that, why not ask those other roommates if you can crash on their couches? Don't be surprised when they all suddenly back away, but if they care that much about the deposit they should at least be feeling a little guilty.(especially if like in a lot of situations with that many roommates, were talking about like... $250 here)
Oh, and as a side note at least around here several storage places do a "first month for $1" deal if you set up autopay. In several moves, friends of mine have put their stuff in there during gaps like this and then cancelled during that first month. You still have to pay a fee or two, but it ended up being under like $50 to have a HUGE storage unit for 2-3 weeks.
posted by emptythought at 11:21 PM on May 28, 2013
I would definitely try the storage unit + that with a note that, why not ask those other roommates if you can crash on their couches? Don't be surprised when they all suddenly back away, but if they care that much about the deposit they should at least be feeling a little guilty.(especially if like in a lot of situations with that many roommates, were talking about like... $250 here)
Oh, and as a side note at least around here several storage places do a "first month for $1" deal if you set up autopay. In several moves, friends of mine have put their stuff in there during gaps like this and then cancelled during that first month. You still have to pay a fee or two, but it ended up being under like $50 to have a HUGE storage unit for 2-3 weeks.
posted by emptythought at 11:21 PM on May 28, 2013
Response by poster: Thank you all for your answers and help. I have tried to offer my daughter's bedroom to my friend to stay, but he isn't the kind to impose and after 20 years of friendship, I know how he is.
He has found a place with your help! Thank you all again!
posted by Yellow at 5:37 PM on May 29, 2013
He has found a place with your help! Thank you all again!
posted by Yellow at 5:37 PM on May 29, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by charlemangy at 4:37 PM on May 28, 2013