This is a tad complicated.
Living in 3BR with only 1 tenant on lease (common in this bldg; others do not have the key issue I will get into). Other occupants of the apt have tried to get on the lease in previous years during lease renewals; LL rejected this notion out of hand. Not because of bad credit checks or anything- just does not want to add tenants to the lease, likely because our apt has crossed the $2K line and he wants the best opportunity to deregulate.
Recently, LL changed the lock on the building's front door (not our apartment door). He would not give us 3 keys, 1 for each occupant/bedroom, even with an extra security deposit for the keys.
LL also wants the tenant out, claiming occupants are illegal subletters (we each have our own bedroom, we are not subletting in tenant's BR) and that the tenant does not use the apartment as primary residence. Tenant spends some time not in apt, but meets the 183 day requirement...further LL has no proof that the tenant is elsewhere.
I understand that there is some law that says the tenant can have 1 person not on the lease live there (aside from family, which we are not). However the LL has refused, without cause, adding us to the lease. And now he's withholding keys.
No forms/notices have been supplied, and further, the LL issued a lease renewal which tenant is about to sign and return (within the 60 day period).
What is our best course of action?