The law protects the renters, not the false property manager. The bums actually live in the building and pay rent. I have rented apartments plenty of times, a

The law protects the renters, not the false property manager. The bums actually live in the building and pay rent. I have rented apartments plenty of times, and never once verified that the landlord is the actual property owner. I just assume I am paying the building owner or their representative. The bums are making the same assumption, and deserve renter's rights just the same. I am sure the lease could be invalidated if you could prove the bums knew the property manager did not represent the owner, but that is just as much of a legal hassle.