Landlord rented out a space within my space and changed locks 🔐
Hey guys , before I start , Ive hired a commercial lease lawyer to go over my options , so basically I have a restaurant that I lease and I also lease the small space next to it which is a long hall way where i properly store my dry food goods . Well my landlord recently sold the plaza to a new landlord, my contract is a 5 year lease , Ive been there two years with no issues . Once you access my space that I lease with the dry goods , there is an unused dungeon like area maybe about 250sq ft that’s never been used just an empty area, well a few days ago my landlord changed the lock on the space that I lease , put a new lock on it that he has the key to, and leased that area to a new tenant without even consulting with me . I was completely upset considering I lease the space that you have  to walk through to even get to that room , this can’t possibly be legal , It’s like if i lease an apartment and the only way to get to the other apartment is through mine so my landlord changes my locks to allow new tenant to always have to walk through my house with guests at their leisure . Am I right to hire a lawyer ? Is this ok or normal or legal?
[{"id": "iay77qn", "text": "The fact that it\u2019s a hallway might be considered communal space, or access to the other area which you are not leasing. However you are paying for the hallway space\u2026\n\nDefinitely talk to a lawyer, this looks to have a couple gray areas.", "replies": [{"id": "iay8rzs", "text": "Correct , it would be except it was leased as a separate space , initially I argued why should I pay for a hallway and was told because it was a large space and I could keep it under lock , So my issue is I\u2019ll have to now allocate my dry goods now differently but if that is now a common area then I should not have to pay for it at all and in that case the original lease should be corrected , and since I\u2019m not sure if everything I hired the lawyer .", "replies": [{"id": "iaz4osn", "text": "You need to go by what is between the 4 corners of your signed lease agreement. If you are about to lawyer up, you need to be in full compliance with your contract. The $ value and space need to be spelled out clearly in the agreement, and if that might mean moving your stuff out the hallway then so be it.\n\nWhatever verbal agreements you had with the previous owner are null and void. If you want to keep any previous verbal agreements you have to renegotiate a new set of terms with the new land lord, either verbally but always preferably in writing and amended to your lease.", "replies": [{"id": "iaz4wsk", "text": "Oh that\u2019s the thing , nothing was verbal , the lease literally states two separate spaces with square footage and all , and the combined rent I pay for both .", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "iay8bd2", "text": "Read your lease carefully. It might save you a lawyer\u2019s bill.", "replies": [{"id": "ib38fs0", "text": "Thank you so much to all for your guidance , and suggestions , so I read over my lease word for word and it\u2019s actually in bold black letter that I am leasing the hallway , it\u2019s referred to aisle in the lease , and attached is the exhibit of the property showing the square footage that belongs to me and the amount I pay monthly with the aisle . It also states that the landlord may take ownership of the aisle again but must do so by written notice to tenant and with out the aisle my rent goes from 2687.50 to 2150, and also the landlord can not access the aisle that I lease unless it is an emergency or with consent from me no later than 24 hours at the least and only during buissness hours , and for what ever reason if the landlord needs to show leased spaces to future tenants after hours and I am not available he must leave written notice on premises that he entered my leased space , instead he broke my lock off and changed it with out even telling me , had people moving my dry goods around which is unsanitary, just so many things he has done wrong .", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "iayhwxt", "text": "I've seen something very similar to this before. As u/apprpm suggested I'd read the lease on the storage space carefully, especially the size and location description. \n\n It's possible that the new landlord doesn't know that you have a lease for the space and were just using it. A call to the management company and owner (may be different) may be a fast resolution to being locked out of space you are paying for. The term \"free enjoyment\" comes to mind. \n\nEven if they provide you with a key do you really want another tenant to have access to your dry goods? I'd press hard for exclusive access to your storage space, or if you are feeling gracious and the space is large enough have the landlord build you locked cages.", "replies": [{"id": "iayjanw", "text": "The new landlord knows I lease both spaces , you\u2019re right I\u2019ll read my lease over agin thoroughly , and if he decides to use it as common space I\u2019ll need an addendum and lease modifications , and hopefully I can be accommodated and my lease payment is reduced .", "replies": [{"id": "iaylpb1", "text": "Remember, whatever you are paying for as it is described in the lease is likely for your exclusive use. The landlord can't decide to rent me space in the middle of your restaurant for vending machines under the guise of the spot being common space.", "replies": [{"id": "iayr1r2", "text": "Right !!!!! Like I feel so walked over in this situation and overwhelmed , like the fact he didn\u2019t even have the decency to tell me about the changing of the locks or that a space with in my space would be leased is ludacris", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ib10u4w", "text": "Can you you get a court order to keep the new tenant out of your leased space? I would assume so. If so, that would be your leverage for renegotiating.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]