Case ID: misc_16/html/0070-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Bischoff, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

James Laird, Respondent, v. Charles D. McGeorge, Appellant.
    (Supreme Court, Appellate Term,
    February, 1896.)
    Landlord and tenant — Liability of landlord for failure to repair.
    In the absence of an agreement by a landlord to repair, he is., hot . answerable -to the tenant for damage resulting to. the latter from a ; want of necessary repairs. , , ■
    Appeal from a judgment of the District Court in the city of New York for the First Judicial District, in favor of the plaintiff.
    Action for rent. - Counterclaim for damages alleged to have resulted from the.failure of the plaintiff’s assignor to make repairs.
    
      Phillips & Avery, for respondent. ■ '
    Charles C. 'Suffren, fer appellant.,
   Bischoff, J.

The action was for rent and the defense went to the duties of the landlord to repair, involving a counterclaim, for repairs made by the tenant, and for damages sustained by reason of the condition of the roof of the premises.

Whether, or not, there had been an agreement that the premises should be' maintained by the landlord in a tenantable condition was primarily the issue, and though a paper writing had been subscribed by the landlord to the effect that the premises-should be tenantable, and kept so, it was also in evidence, without objection, that this was not actually the agreement, and that the-parties had come to an understanding that the premises should be-accepted in their condition as found, except as to certain matters not now brought into controversy.-

It was explained by the landlord that the paper alluded to had been signed hurriedly by reason of the tenant’s haste, and- that, it was mutually apprehended to be merely a receipt for a payment made by the tenant a,t the time.’

The justice below was satisfied with this explanation and with the parol evidence of the actual agreement, and upon the record we do not find reason to hold that the conclusion in favor of the landlord, was unauthorized, since that conclusion could properly be reached upon evidence which, although not of the character required by law, was to be considered as, properly in the ease through the failure of the. opposing party to call for its exclusion. Crane v. Powell, 139 N. Y. 384.

In the absence of an agreement by the landlord to repair, he is not answerable to the tenant for damage resulting to the latter from a want- of necessary repairs. Doupe v. Genin, 45 N. Y. 119, 122.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.

Daly, P. J., and MoAdam, J., concur.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.