What do you mean by not on a lease?
If your concerned about renter rights, you’ll still (most likely) have them just as if you were. Don’t forget to give the housing authority a ring, they might be of some help too.
In my case, it means that I don’t have any obligation to them in terms of notice - I could tell them I’m moving out tomorrow and they can’t do anything (well, as long as I pay till the end of the current month). However, that means the landlord can jack up my rent at any time as long as I get 3 months notice, and they have no obligation to me in terms of notice - if they told me to go at the end of the month, I have to go at the end of the month.
I’m thinking of going on another lease, but the advantage of my position is that I’m in a market where rent is high, but real estate is slowly coming down, so if I saw a better priced place or even decided to buy a condo I could take off immediately.
So it seems to me it’s not that you DON’T have a lease, it’s that your leasing month to month.
Do you mind driving a bit? 'Cause you could get rent easily in that same price neighborhood from one of the small towns around Eau Claire, if you don’t mind a bit of a commute. My sister-in-law roomed with a couple that rented a house outside of Durand for $300/month. (Yes, a house. Housing and rental prices in small-town western Wisconsin are unbelievable. Hell, my parents-in-law’s mortgage is $400/month. Yeah, they bought it 20 years ago, but still.)
So, Durand’s 30 miles from Eau Claire, and the drive’s not bad. Mondovi’s a closer 15ish miles, but I can’t speak to the drive as clearly. (I grew up in Durand.) I’m certain you could find apartments in any small town for close to $280. The only drawback is, well, you’re in a small town. (For those participating, Eau Claire’s the nearest large city in western WI until you get to Minneapolis, so lots and lots of rural folk head there for shopping, movies, and eats. Eau Claire’s about 80K people and is 2 hours from the Mpls/St. Paul metro.)
$800/month for rent in Eau Claire seems ridiculous to me - that’s high, at least for that area. (Madison, now, not so much. But Eau Claire?!)
Sorry to hear it, man - that sucks. While your checking about renter’s rights, you should also check for any winter prohibitions too. I know that they can’t turn your heat off in the middle of winter; they shouldn’t be able to throw you out in the street in February either.
Luck!
Even in South Farking Carolina you can’t rent a box with a hole in it for $280. I think you’re in for a somewhat rude surprise.
Dopers helping other Dopers.
Man, that is just friggin’ wonderful! 
DJ, let us know how it’s going, okay?
Q
Seriously. I know a girl who is literally renting the closet under the stairs of a three bedroom apartment in San Francisco, and she’s paying about that. For a single room she can’t even stand up in.
Shit!** REALLY**???
I mean, doesn’t the landlord have to answer to some kind of housing authority to rent out a space that small???
Q
I don’t think so. My understanding is, it was an arrangement worked out with the other roommates. The lease just says that those four people are renting out the apartment for X amount of dollars. It doesn’t stipulate where everyone gets to sleep, or who has to pay what percent of X.
Actually, knowing the girl in question, there’s also a good chance she’s simply not on the lease at all. She’s a hippie chick who hitchhiked out here from Montreal. She’s not heavily invested in the concept of a fixed address.
An unlawful detainer on your credit record is a very bad thing.
What with the Landlord giving him free rent for January, and the very cheap rents for years, it doesn’t look like the Landlord is being evil.
ok, dj motorbike, do the only thing you can,go get a jar of vaseline brother cause your gonna be fucked. if that doesn’t help i am sending you, “hugs and chocklate,” to ease the pain. good luck,your gonna need it.
nadahappycamperWell then, Miller, she should feel right at home in one of those Japanese capsule living spaces, huh?
Q
If there is ever an inspection or a fire in that building, the landlord is going to be in so much trouble.
The living arrangements in the building are the landlord’s responsibility. “I DID NOT KNOW” is not going to fly when the gummit comes a-calling.
In my parts, a bedroom has to have a separate door, a window and a closet. There can only be two tenants per bedroom max.
In my area, there is no specific rule on how many, but the window (or a door) has to open to the outside for escaping a fire.