Finn v. Peters

The plaintiff in 1940 rented the first floor of a three story, three family dwelling. The defendant became the landlord in October, 1948, and he soon moved into another apartment in the building. Thereafter there were three increases in the plaintiff's rent, the last in September, 1955. There was no lease. Extending twenty feet along the whole width of the rear of the house was a porch or piazza enclosed only by a railing. At the left end of the porch (as one faces the rear of the house) were three steps and a platform, which “all the tenants had to use,” to reach a door, also on the left end…