A few months ago I was on Facebook marketplace looking for a room to rent. I came across a posting that seemed nice for the price. I saw in the photo (I provided them as well) natural light coming from the window. In the description of the advertisement it even read, “Room has excellent natural lighting..”
Fast forward, I am viewing the house and room. I do feel timid, I am from a small town in upstate NY and I am viewing apartments in a big county and I do not know what I am doing. The current tenant at the time was in the room when I saw it and he was cleaning and I felt bad for invading his privacy and IT WAS HOT IN THE ROOM (There is a little foreshadowing there, that should have been a red flag but did not think twice about it.)
BUT.. I NEVER LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW OR OPENED THE CURTAINS!
Fast forward, I sign a 1 year lease. It is move in day, I go to peel back the curtains to open the window because well it is hot as hell in that room. To my surprise just on the other side of the glass was not the outside, it was my roomates bedroom, I could see EVERYTHING like a fish bowl. He even has his dresser up against the window with a glass tank onto with his pet reptile. I FELT UPSET AND CONNED. NOT ONCE DID THE LANDLORD MENTION THE WINDOW LED TO ANOTHER PERSONS ROOM!.
I asked to leave and he said, “You are in a lease, when it is over you can leave.” It has now been 3 months.. have been suffering in that hot ass room with no ventilation and I am just learning from friends that I have rights and that this is illegal.
*The photo with the glass tank is my roommate's room and the window behind the tank leads to my room.
Can someone please help me? This is illegal right? Who do I call? It is not easy finding housing in San Diego county so I don’t even know where I would go on a short notice.
Thank you in advance for any information.