> If you don't like it, find a different apartment.

That's exactly what parent commenter said he would do, in opening sentence..

> they own the building, that's their call

No, actually it's not. It's against the law to use a residential building as a short term occupancy hotel.

"My building" is a common English colloquialism to mean "the building in which I reside." It does not actually imply ownership.

If you don't like it, find a different language. :P

In a lease agreement, it is a common convention to pay a rental rate for one dwelling or "unit" in the building. Not the "entire building " containing said dwelling. If you dont like what other people do with their dwellings, pay their rent for them in exchange for agreements governing what they do therein.

Nonsense, if I owned the whole building I would say "my [more familiar term than 'building']".

Perhaps an example will put you at ease:

"Oh could you help me take these to my flat? I know they're heavy, but don't worry, my building has a lift!"

Substitute apartment and elevator if so inclined.

I don't understand what any of this has to do with the comment to which you replied.

Just because the poster doesn't own the building doesn't mean that the actual owner of the building can make illegal agreements re: the building.

nemo44x may not own the building, but her/his home is there. A home has greater meaning than its enclosing walls and a roof. It's the difference between a "home" and a "house". The home transcends ownership; the home goes beyond the physical space. Homes provide privacy, intimacy, personal expression, retreat. They are a place to love, to cry, to heal. They are a basic piece of the human experience. And all modern societies value them beyond their economic and materialistic dimensions.

In high density areas, local governments have codified the value of "home" into law. NYC has housing laws that offer protection for people across the spectrum. From rent stabilization and eviction laws for the homes of those in lower income brackets, to Co-op and condo laws that protect the home of some of the wealthiest residents.

> they own the building, that's their call.

Tenants have rights. Landlords are not, and should not be, allowed to do whatever they want with their building.

>But if the landlord is ok with it... they own the building, that's their call.

Actually, it's very likely that a bank owns the building with a 30 year mortgage.

No, the bank does not own it. The landlord can sell the building to a new owner. The bank can not.