A LANDLORD has lost thousands after a tenant refused to pay rent for nearly a decade.
Now, he’s left with few options to get the money back, and can’t afford to pay for his kids’ higher education.
News 12 Long IslandA landlord (pictured) has been left desperate after a tenant refused to pay rent[/caption] News 12 Long IslandThe situation at a Brooklyn apartment building in 2016[/caption]The landlord, Tom Diana, operates an apartment building in Park Slope, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, per News12 Long Island.
Two senior women were living as roommates in one of his units for a long time until one of them passed away in 2016.
While the remaining woman would’ve been required to cover the full cost of the rent, she did not, and refused to leave.
Diana told the news outlet that he was patient, trying to figure out a way to move forward with the remaining roommate given the situation.
“I tried to work something out with her, okay — every time we tried to work something out she came up with a new goofball excuse,” he said.
At one point, Diana said the remaining tenant told him she could pay one third of the rent instead of one half, three weeks late.
Diana didn’t accept that offer, as the full amount was still owed.
That outstanding amount grew considerably, and the landlord said the woman hasn’t made any rent payment since January 2019.
OUT OF CONTROL
“Every year I’m losing about $40,000 to $50,000,” Diana said.
As of 2025, the back rent total is over $200,000.
“I can’t afford to pay for my kids’ college because this has been going on for so many years,” the landlord claimed.
“This is not fair.”
Legal action was taken, with court documents obtained by News12 Long Island showing that the remaining tenant agreed in 2022 to pay the portion of the rent left behind by the woman who passed.
It was listed at $830 a month, dating back to 2019.
Average Rent Costs NYC
The current average rent price for an apartment in the United States is $1,761 and the average apartment size is 904 square feet New York’s average rent is $2,696 for an apartment at 868 square feet It’s one of the three most expensive currently, with Massachusetts taking the top spot at $2,887 California is in third at $2,621Credit: Rent Cafe
The documents also showed that the rent was never paid.
While the tenant could not be contacted, her attorney, Legal Services NYC, argued the unit was “unlawfully removed from rent stabilization.”
The rent dispute remains ongoing in court.
SITUATION BREAKDOWN
It is accurate that should a roommate die, the remaining amount is often the sole responsibility of the remaining tenant, per Trust & Will.
This is because when co-signing a lease, a landlord doesn’t make specific distinctions between who pays what amount.
Each person is agreeing to pay the total rent, meaning that the liability would fall to the remaining roommate, and that legal action, like in Diana’s case, could be taken.
Of course, this can be solved by quickly finding a new roommate to move in, but that may be challenging and difficult amid the grieving process.
There is a way, however, that the roommate who died can still be responsible for paying a portion, even after death.
The assets of the deceased go through what’s called probate court, where all their affairs are settled.
A formal request can also be submitted by the living roommate to have the remaining portion of the rent be covered by the deceased’s estate instead, or the finances they left behind.
Renters in New York City could also save thousands thanks to a new “FARE” law that’s banning certain fees.
Some apartments in Hong Kong are also leaving residents stunned, as they’re tiny and known as “coffin homes.”
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