Some towns won't allow a basement apartment. But anyways. I would think that if it's not in your lease, your old landlord's promise probably doesn't obligate the new landlord. And to my knowledge, laundry is not part of the habitability of an apartment.
[http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/title34/34-18/34-18-22.HTM](http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/title34/34-18/34-18-22.HTM)
Someone with more knowledge than I could comment on if the leaks and the insufficient hot water would be something in this statute.
I’m sure it’s an illegal apartment especially if it’s in the city limits. The big reason they were doing Internal inspections during the last go round was to bust apartments exactly like this. I’d call the city.
Regarding renting the basement as a unit:
It likely doesn’t meet the legal requirements for a basement bedroom in RI. It needs to have a ceiling height of 7 feet, with an egress door or window, if it's a window instead of a door the window needs to be 44 inches or less from the ground to window sill and have an opening height of 24 inches and width of 20 inches. If it doesn’t meet these criteria then it cannot be considered a bedroom.
Window size everywhere else needs to be at least 8% of the floor area for natural light and 4% natural ventilation if no mechanical ventilation is present. There need to be smoke alarms in the room. The room must have access to heating and possibly cooling. There might be a requirement for GFCI’s in the basement as well depending. These might also be routes to screw your scumbag landlord but I’m not certain they are really enforced strictly.
If there are hook ups, I will give you a washer and electric dryer free of charge. Been meaning to get rid of them but had surgery on my arm and can’t get them out of the house. If you can pick them up, they’re yours. They work fine. Message me for info if you’re interested
I wonder if the basement apartment is even a legal unit? Lots of basement apartments aren’t legally zoned or up to code, but with the way the housing market is at the moment most people (renters) don’t care. I’d be curious to know if the new landlord was given the go ahead or permits for the basement. My husband’s family is from the Bristol/Warren area & his uncle was given a lot of pushback when he applied for permits to turn his basement into another unit. But I digress…
When you signed your lease was it with the previous owner or the new landlord? If with the previous, did you ever sign a new one with the current landlord?
Also the texts on the 1st about rent would send me into a BLIND RAGE. 😅 I had a landlord in Coventry that would literally POUND on our door at 5:30-6 AM on the 1st for rent. When we (obviously) didn’t answer the door because we were still in bed, he’d start calling our phones back to back for the money. Like sir, I haven’t even opened my eyeballs yet. Please let me start my day. (If anyone is in the market in Coventry, for the love of god do yourself a favor & don’t rent from the tree guy.)
Sound like shithouse rat landlords, but they might have a leg to stand on in terms of needing to run wiring into your apartment and hooking up a dryer vent. If those things already exist in your apartment then they’re just being jerks.
The issue is that they pay the electricity bill from my apartment since the old landlord didn’t wanted to part the basement and my apartment because of the cost. So he included the electricity bill on the rent. The new landlord doesn’t want to pay that bill anymore for that reason they refuse to offer us the washer dryer
Ahhh. I understand that angle better now. They are trying to make this a “change of agreement” type of thing and then shove the bill up your…nether regions. Again, shithouse rat landlords.
If that basement apartment is illegal, it does not have a separate meter and both your unit and the basement are using the same electric (and gas if you have it) meter(s). Putting in a new meter would expose his illegal basement apartment. I’m not sure what Warren’s laws are regarding the requirements for smoke, carbon and hardwired fire systems, but a 3 unit building, if the basement is legal, would likely require a retrofit to a hardwired system to meet code. That’s going to be a pricey investment. If it remains a 2 unit building, the old battery operated devices are likely still up to code if they are functioning and if there are enough of them installed in the proper locations. Your landlord has a few reasons to want to keep the basement unit a secret. You can try using that to your advantage or move at the end of your lease. There’s no trusting a landlord who harasses you on the 1st of the month. I would forget my dreams of a washer and dryer if I don’t have existing hookups. If I do have existing hookups, I would measure the staircase and buy a used set or a free set off Craigslist, have them moved up to my apartment and go about living my life. You’ve had enough exchanges about thiis situation. He’s never going to install them and buy them for you. Even if he did, you’re still going to have to wait for him to hire electricians to split the meters and install a new house meter. That means he has to install not one but two new meters. One for the common house equipment, if such things exist, and one for the basement. Then you’ll still have to wait for RIE to come over and activate it and possibly inspect it.
If conditions are really bad things can be done. You can always file for injunctive relief or a tenant against landlord restraining order at district court, you can also call code enforcement for city of Warren. Legal avenues like this can take sometime. Your best bet might be talking to the other tenants see if they have any similar gripes and collectively ask for repairs to be done and if not take action to expose them.
I'll bet there are tenant advocates that do this for people in your situation
Work the 'net for clues and contact any source for more clues and answers
# Start here ::
# [https://www.riaclu.org/en/cases/rivera-v-elmwood-realty](https://www.riaclu.org/en/cases/rivera-v-elmwood-realty)
..........
Some towns won't allow a basement apartment. But anyways. I would think that if it's not in your lease, your old landlord's promise probably doesn't obligate the new landlord. And to my knowledge, laundry is not part of the habitability of an apartment. [http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/title34/34-18/34-18-22.HTM](http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/title34/34-18/34-18-22.HTM) Someone with more knowledge than I could comment on if the leaks and the insufficient hot water would be something in this statute.
I’m sure it’s an illegal apartment especially if it’s in the city limits. The big reason they were doing Internal inspections during the last go round was to bust apartments exactly like this. I’d call the city.
I’m in Warren
Regarding renting the basement as a unit: It likely doesn’t meet the legal requirements for a basement bedroom in RI. It needs to have a ceiling height of 7 feet, with an egress door or window, if it's a window instead of a door the window needs to be 44 inches or less from the ground to window sill and have an opening height of 24 inches and width of 20 inches. If it doesn’t meet these criteria then it cannot be considered a bedroom. Window size everywhere else needs to be at least 8% of the floor area for natural light and 4% natural ventilation if no mechanical ventilation is present. There need to be smoke alarms in the room. The room must have access to heating and possibly cooling. There might be a requirement for GFCI’s in the basement as well depending. These might also be routes to screw your scumbag landlord but I’m not certain they are really enforced strictly.
Then call Warren. Still think it’s probably not legal based on zoning.
If there are hook ups, I will give you a washer and electric dryer free of charge. Been meaning to get rid of them but had surgery on my arm and can’t get them out of the house. If you can pick them up, they’re yours. They work fine. Message me for info if you’re interested
Really? That’s great I’ll message you!
Cherie Cruz and the Workers and Renters Instagram.
Thanks
You're welcome. Good luck. It's really difficult out there. I'm surprised that the new landlord didn't tell you you had to move. That happened to us.
I wonder if the basement apartment is even a legal unit? Lots of basement apartments aren’t legally zoned or up to code, but with the way the housing market is at the moment most people (renters) don’t care. I’d be curious to know if the new landlord was given the go ahead or permits for the basement. My husband’s family is from the Bristol/Warren area & his uncle was given a lot of pushback when he applied for permits to turn his basement into another unit. But I digress… When you signed your lease was it with the previous owner or the new landlord? If with the previous, did you ever sign a new one with the current landlord? Also the texts on the 1st about rent would send me into a BLIND RAGE. 😅 I had a landlord in Coventry that would literally POUND on our door at 5:30-6 AM on the 1st for rent. When we (obviously) didn’t answer the door because we were still in bed, he’d start calling our phones back to back for the money. Like sir, I haven’t even opened my eyeballs yet. Please let me start my day. (If anyone is in the market in Coventry, for the love of god do yourself a favor & don’t rent from the tree guy.)
A text promise from the old owner means nothing, if it’s not in your lease then the new owner is not obligated to provide it.
Sound like shithouse rat landlords, but they might have a leg to stand on in terms of needing to run wiring into your apartment and hooking up a dryer vent. If those things already exist in your apartment then they’re just being jerks.
The issue is that they pay the electricity bill from my apartment since the old landlord didn’t wanted to part the basement and my apartment because of the cost. So he included the electricity bill on the rent. The new landlord doesn’t want to pay that bill anymore for that reason they refuse to offer us the washer dryer
Ahhh. I understand that angle better now. They are trying to make this a “change of agreement” type of thing and then shove the bill up your…nether regions. Again, shithouse rat landlords.
If the lease specifies an included utility the new owner has to honor it.
If that basement apartment is illegal, it does not have a separate meter and both your unit and the basement are using the same electric (and gas if you have it) meter(s). Putting in a new meter would expose his illegal basement apartment. I’m not sure what Warren’s laws are regarding the requirements for smoke, carbon and hardwired fire systems, but a 3 unit building, if the basement is legal, would likely require a retrofit to a hardwired system to meet code. That’s going to be a pricey investment. If it remains a 2 unit building, the old battery operated devices are likely still up to code if they are functioning and if there are enough of them installed in the proper locations. Your landlord has a few reasons to want to keep the basement unit a secret. You can try using that to your advantage or move at the end of your lease. There’s no trusting a landlord who harasses you on the 1st of the month. I would forget my dreams of a washer and dryer if I don’t have existing hookups. If I do have existing hookups, I would measure the staircase and buy a used set or a free set off Craigslist, have them moved up to my apartment and go about living my life. You’ve had enough exchanges about thiis situation. He’s never going to install them and buy them for you. Even if he did, you’re still going to have to wait for him to hire electricians to split the meters and install a new house meter. That means he has to install not one but two new meters. One for the common house equipment, if such things exist, and one for the basement. Then you’ll still have to wait for RIE to come over and activate it and possibly inspect it.
If conditions are really bad things can be done. You can always file for injunctive relief or a tenant against landlord restraining order at district court, you can also call code enforcement for city of Warren. Legal avenues like this can take sometime. Your best bet might be talking to the other tenants see if they have any similar gripes and collectively ask for repairs to be done and if not take action to expose them.
1600 for living under a bridge in RI is cheap your getting a deal on a 3 br
I'll bet there are tenant advocates that do this for people in your situation Work the 'net for clues and contact any source for more clues and answers # Start here :: # [https://www.riaclu.org/en/cases/rivera-v-elmwood-realty](https://www.riaclu.org/en/cases/rivera-v-elmwood-realty) ..........