Rent Increases

Drifter Luke

Drifter Luke

Little Mile
#1
#1
Hi All,

I'm in a bit of a pickle. My landlord never sent me my lease renewal forms. My lease is over starting Oct 1. I called him and asked to get them since I adore my tiny home.

I got them last night and he's raising my rent 24%. I think that this is so fucked. Please, if you know, isn't there a cap on a rent increase? My building is a 1930 pre-war coop with a handful of renters.

Grazie!
m
 
VarietyUndrgrnd

VarietyUndrgrnd

@the Parkside Lounge
#3
#3
Drifter Luke said:
I'm in a bit of a pickle. My landlord never sent me my lease renewal forms. My lease is over starting Oct 1.
Click to expand...
Also, did you pay rent for October yet? Did you pay according to last year's rent or this year's rent? I have no idea if this is relevant legally, but it seems like it might be.
 
C

cosmo22

New Member
#4
#4
Most likely you had a preferred rate. Basically that means that whatever the market value of your apt. is they were charging you several hundred dollars less. As of last year landlords were no longer required to give preferred rates so most landlord hiked the rent up because they are assholes. I only know this because my landlord did it.
 
Drifter Luke

Drifter Luke

Little Mile
#5
#5
I did pay for October at the old rate and the thing is--the DAY I called to have my lease renewed, I found the rent bill in my mailbox at the old rate. So I would never have had this increase if I didn't bring it to their attention.
 
VarietyUndrgrnd

VarietyUndrgrnd

@the Parkside Lounge
#6
#6
Well... I think the law is that if your lease expires and nobody says anything, you are assumed to be a month-to-month tenant until further notice. Which probably means you're screwed.
 
Drifter Luke

Drifter Luke

Little Mile
#7
#7
Do you think my landlord has ANY pull? He and I are pals and I know he'd be upset to see me leave the building--especially since you never know what kind of tenant you'll get in my snooty building. I was thinking of asking him what he thought before talking to the landlord I've never met and who lives in Scarsdale.
 
K

kevhines

in
#10
#10
I didn't get a lease renewal for my current apartment, but I never asked for one because I didn't want to see a rent increase. Even a small one.

Am I screwing myself by going month to month? Should I get a rent increase to assure I have this place?
 
VarietyUndrgrnd

VarietyUndrgrnd

@the Parkside Lounge
#11
#11
I don't think you're screwing yourself, Kevin... I mean, you have to weigh the fact that not having a lease means you can be asked to leave with 30 days notice vs. the risk that asking for a renewal will remind the landlord to increase your rent. Are you friends with your landlord? The specifics in your case will help you make the decision...
 
B

Bernie

Uh oh--He thought again.
#12
#12
I don't know if this is true, but just the other day, someone was telling me that the ideal situation is to let the lease expire, and then continue to pay rent--which means the lease renewal is assumed. But it also seems the days of tenants being rather protected is over, so I have no F-ing clue. Consider my comment moral support. You can get them!
 
K

kevhines

in
#14
#14
There is only one other apartment in my building and I know he signed a lease extension - so he is here for another year. I can't see my landlord kicking one of us out. The only reason to get rid of me is if he wanted to use this floor for something else, so I think I am safe.

phew.
 
bully

bully

Cucumber
#18
#18
When I lived in Park Slope, I had to have a small chat with the DOH regarding some shady rent goings-on in my building. I could be completely wrong about this, but as I recall, the DOH worker I spoke with claimed that for a non-stabilized leased apartment, there could be no more than a 10% increase per year. Also, there was some rule about limiting percentage increases over the course of several tenants; I was able to get a report from them delineating what past tenants had paid, thus insuring that my landlord's ridiculous increase couldn't (legally) go through.
Tenants' rights are HUGE in New York State. Call the DOH--they're really helpful.
 
D

delabarre

Pretty Pretty Pony
#19
#19
Also, I believe there are specific rules in place regarding notice of rent increase. The new contract has to be submitted in a timely manner (one, maybe two months?? Dunno) Worth a check.
 
Y

youngcat

Math Rules!
#20
#20
Drifter Luke said:
Sorry--I meant my Super. Do you think my live-in Super has any sway. He's been in the building for 20 years!
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Also, unfortunately, every landlord in the city is raising rents right now, beacuse the market has improved 10 fold from last year, and 20 fold from the year before that.

The same landlords who were paying the fee and renting the apartment that went for $1500 pre-9/11 for less than $1200 two years ago, are charging $1600 and not paying any fees.

Whats basically happening is that all of the preferential rents that were given to fill out spaces over the past two years are now getting increases based on the legal rent.

(I.E., the LEGAL stabilized rent on a studio is $1565. The Market, however, dictates that the landlord can only get $1200 for it. Therefore, the landlord rents it at a preferential rent stabilized rate of $1200, but a rider to the lease stipulates that after the lease is up, all subsequent renewals are based on the LEGAL rent.)

Why is this happening? Because the landlord can rent the apartment to a different tenant for the market rate, because, unfortunately, that's what the market has dictated over the past year.

I think your in trouble Lena.

Sorry,

Joe
 
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