Real Estate & Property Law
New York City Landlord Tenant News 
New York City (NYC) Landlord and Tenant News from the New York Times.
Post Frequency: 1.2/day Last Entry: September 03, 2010 at 01:00:00 Recent Entries: 267
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Real Estate Q & A
Posted on September 03, 2010A parking space that comes with the lease; a condo building with no emergency reserve fund; a landlord?s liability in a burglary; dealing with fees on security deposits.
N.Y. Landlords Use Private Eyes to ID Illegal Tenants
Posted on August 30, 2010Real estate investigation, a big business in a borough like Manhattan with plenty of rent-regulated apartments ripe for exploitation, has picked up in the past year.
Real Estate Q & A
Posted on August 27, 2010Still waiting for a lease; a dual policy on allowing pets; canceling a board election.
Q&A
Posted on August 22, 2010When Windows Don't Work QI am a rent-stabilized tenant in a co-op building. About 20 years ago, the landlord installed new windows. Their plastic locks broke long ago, so they won't stay closed, allowing rain, snow and cold inside. And because they are double-paned, condensation has built up in between, making it impossible to clean them or see out of them clearly...
Good Cellphone Service Comes at a Price
Posted on August 20, 2010In an 82-year-old building that supports two cellphone base stations, tenants must deal with a trade-off: quality reception for a crumbling residence.
Real Estate Q & A
Posted on August 20, 2010When windows don?t work; owing money after foreclosure; representing a co-op in small-claims court; common repairs for private damage.
Real Estate Q & A
Posted on August 13, 2010A cell tower on the roof; when the ?ex? leaves a stabilized rental; condo associations charging visitors.
Real Estate Q & A
Posted on August 06, 2010Renting and owning in the same building; rodents moving in after renovations; and a condo president wearing two hats.
Rescue of Crumbling Buildings May Not Fix the Problem
Posted on August 05, 2010Housing advocates say that some investors rescuing city properties in disrepair will make conditions worse.
A Stop-Payment Fee That May Never End
Posted on July 24, 2010A bank customer learns that he can pay $30 to stop payment on a check ? but that the fee covers only the first six months.
Real Estate Q & A
Posted on July 23, 2010When a lease becomes binding; claiming ownership of a rooftop terrace; a new cycle for appliances.
Real Estate Q & A
Posted on July 14, 2010Sponsor-owned units after a foreclosure; a rent-regulated tenant swaps spaces; and calculating ?tax basis? from assessments.
Real Estate Q & A
Posted on July 07, 2010When a sublet tenant has a roommate; giving notice without a lease; and understanding the rules for capital-gains tax.
Real Estate Q & A
Posted on June 30, 2010The perils of paying a maintenance fee late, reading the fine print of a condo lease, and reassigning condo funds.
Year After Evacuation, Tenants Still Can?t Go Home
Posted on June 29, 2010The tenants say their landlord wants to drive them away so he can raise the rent. He disagrees. They are headed to court.
Law Will Require Landlords? Disclosures on Bedbugs
Posted on June 24, 2010The measure would require New York City landlords to tell prospective tenants if an apartment had been infested within the previous year.
Real Estate Q & A
Posted on June 23, 2010When to disclose financial information, correcting city records and evicting bedbugs.
City in Nebraska Torn as Immigration Vote Nears
Posted on June 18, 2010An election that will decide whether to ban businesses from hiring illegal immigrants has opened a raw divide.
Real Estate Q & A
Posted on June 15, 2010The hidden costs of refinancing, a unit ?misrepresented? on Craigslist, and more.
Real Estate Q. and A.
Posted on June 09, 2010Debt consolidation for co-op owners, buyout offers for rent-stabilized tenants, and more.
How to Be a Brainy Renter
Posted on June 03, 2010Landlords will always know more than you do, but Web tools that mimic social networks can close the gap.
Tenants and Landlords Criticize Paterson?s Rent Regulation Proposal
Posted on May 26, 2010Gov. David A. Paterson proposed an increase in the threshold at which landlords can charge market rates, and an override to a pro-tenant court ruling.
Judge Loses Patience With a Bronx Landlord
Posted on May 19, 2010With hundreds of outstanding building violations and the landlord?s missing a hearing, a housing court judge issued an arrest warrant.
Program to Combat Asthma Would Lean on Landlords
Posted on May 11, 2010The City Council in New York plans to introduce legislation requiring landlords to battle garbage, mold and vermin, all factors that have been linked to asthma.
Lead Poisoning Is in Decline, but Proves a Stubborn Nemesis
Posted on April 21, 2010Contamination among young children has droppedsharply in the U.S., but in poor urban areas it remains a challenge.
Lead Poisoning, a Stubborn Nemesis
Posted on April 21, 2010Contamination among young children has droppedsharply in the U.S., but in poor urban areas it remains a challenge.
Tackling the Tenant Blacklist With New Legislation
Posted on April 07, 2010Starting this summer, tenants will have the chance to correct any inaccuracies in reports landlords use for screening purposes.
Real Estate?s Crash Recasts a Scorned Landlord as a Potential Savior
Posted on March 30, 2010Laurence Gluck, who lost a storied complex in Harlem to foreclosure, is negotiating with the city to buy Tivoli Tower, a troubled development in Brooklyn.
Letters: Homeownership?s Future
Posted on March 12, 2010Re: ?Mom, Apple Pie and Mortgages,? in which Robert J. Shiller said the nation might look at new methods of housing finance.
A Reluctance to Ride the Market
Posted on March 09, 2010Only about 100 of 790 buildings that are eligible for hourly prices have opted for the Con Ed service.
Not Your Banks? Bailouts: Stores Too Loved to Fail
Posted on March 05, 2010In the age of bailouts, rescuing some stores that provide neighborhoods? fabric involves numbers that do not end in ?illions.?
Landlord to Pay $1 Million Over Treatment of Tenants
Posted on February 11, 2010Vantage Properties, which has 9,500 apartments in Queens and Manhattan, agreed to pay $1 million and to stop harassing tenants.
Landlord Faces Lawsuit for Harassment
Posted on January 29, 2010State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced he will sue a major New York landlord that he says harassed tenants in rent-regulated apartments to force their departure.
Tenants Struggle as a British Landlord Goes Bust
Posted on December 22, 2009The British company Dawnay Day had high hopes when it bought 47 Manhattan buildings. It hasn?t worked out well for the company, or for its tenants.
Renovating a Rental as if It Were Their Own
Posted on December 10, 2009By striking a deal with their landlord, a Brooklyn couple not only got permission to renovate according to their taste, but also negotiated a significant rent reduction.
Clearing a Path for Bikes in City Office Buildings
Posted on December 09, 2009Office building owners and managers are adjusting to comply with a bicycle access law that takes effect Friday.
Flush in a Recession, a Bronx Landlord Is Ready to Shop
Posted on November 19, 2009Jacob Selechnik amassed an empire of more than 7,000 apartments. After selling many of them recently, he says he is poised to go bargain hunting.
Earning a Profit by Ending Energy Waste
Posted on November 18, 2009A nonprofit lender?s new Green Financing Initiative offers mortgages or refinancing to developers who fix wasteful energy and water systems in apartment buildings.
Impact of Ruling in Stuyvesant Town Case Could Take Years to Determine
Posted on October 24, 2009Lawyers on both sides of the issue said it could take years to weather lawsuits brought by tenants, as well as to determine the impact on thousands of building owners.
Q. and A. on New York Rent Ruling
Posted on October 24, 2009Many details remain to be worked out, but as many as 80,000 market-rate tenants in New York City may be eligible for rent reductions or refunds.
Stuyvesant Town Ruling Worries Tenants and Landlords Alike
Posted on October 23, 2009Hours after the New York Court of Appeals ruled the owners had improperly raised rents, some landlords canceled deals, and tenants worried about their rents.
So Who Left the Lights on? This System Knows
Posted on October 07, 2009Vornado Realty?s new service helps tenants get a precise look at their energy use, with an eye to making it lower.
Millions in Rebates at Stake in Rent Case Before Top Court
Posted on September 11, 2009Whether Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village residents are owed refunds for rent overpayment is at stake in a case that may affect tenants citywide.
Albany Leader Fires Aide Over Real Estate Woes
Posted on September 01, 2009Senator Pedro Espada Jr. fired Onix A. Sosa after learning of housing code violations under his management.
The Stay-Put Incentive
Posted on August 09, 2009Because a bird in hand is worth two in the bush, landlords are offering rent breaks to good tenants.
Expanded Protections for Tenants Are Upheld in Court
Posted on August 06, 2009A State Supreme Court justice upheld New York City?s Tenant Protection Act, which allows tenants to sue landlords for harassment.
Struggling Landlords Leaving Repairs Undone
Posted on July 15, 2009New York city property owners having trouble making ends meet are leaving their apartment tenants in limbo.
In New York, Summer Brings a Wave of Homeless Families
Posted on July 07, 2009The homeless population in New York swells in the summer, in part because of parents who have been staving off displacement until their children finish the school year.
In a Campaign to Raise Rents, an Attempt to Humanize Landlords
Posted on June 23, 2009A group representing thousands of landlords of rent-stabilized apartments has mounted a public relations campaign.
Espada?s Switch Imperils Pro-Tenant Rent Law Changes
Posted on June 17, 2009Pedro Espada Jr.?s surprise defection to the Republican Party delivered an all-but-unnoticed victory to another powerful group: New York?s real estate industry.
New York Office Landlords Go Small
Posted on April 29, 2009Manhattan building owners are trying to make deals by chopping large spaces into smaller units and finishing off the space before a tenant is signed.
Rent Dispute Was Scary, Officials Say, Charging 3
Posted on April 22, 2009Prosecutors said three men kidnapped their landlord?s agent and threatened to kill him because of money problems in trying to open a bar.
Stuyvesant Town?s Landlord Can Appeal Ruling on Rents
Posted on April 07, 2009The decision opens the door for the landlord to appeal a court ruling that it must repay certain tenants millions of dollars in rent overcharges.
Ploys in the Hood
Posted on March 21, 2009How unscrupulous landlords and discriminatory lending practices created Chicago?s ghettos.
A Landlord?s Revenge Divides the Neighbors
Posted on March 21, 2009In Alexandria, Va., A sex shop opened in a historic neighborhood once populated by the nation?s founders.
Behind an Outsize Court Case, Two Everyday Tenants
Posted on March 14, 2009Tenants at Stuyvesant Town win a lawsuit on illegal rent increases, but hold off on celebration as their landlord appeals.
Manhattan Towers Gather Their Own Heat, for Power
Posted on February 24, 2009A way of recycling wasted heat is gaining popularity in a few big Manhattan buildings, which are building cogeneration plants.
Trying to Understand Two Bronx Juries? Opposite Verdicts on a Fatal Fire
Posted on February 21, 2009When contradictory verdicts are handed down the discrepancy points to an uncomfortable reality: jurors sometimes follow their hearts as much as the law.
Judge Upholds City Ban on Section 8 Rent Bias
Posted on February 20, 2009A law that makes it illegal for landlords to discriminate against tenants who receive government subsidies has passed its first major legal test.
Tenants Call Landlord Expenses Exaggerated
Posted on February 16, 2009Landlords of rent-regulated apartments have been abusing a rule that allows them to raise rents after making improvements to vacant homes, according to a report.
State Freezes Plan to Have Tenants Pay Electric Bills
Posted on February 15, 2009A landlord?s plan to have hundreds of tenants pay for their own electricity at an apartment complex on Roosevelt Island has been put on hold by a state utility commission.
Assembly Passes Rent-Regulation Revisions Opposed by Landlords
Posted on February 02, 2009The Democratic-led Assembly passed legislation designed to re-regulate tens of thousands of units that were converted to market rate in recent years.
Recession Has Landlords of Retail Tenants Extending Discounts of Their Own
Posted on January 31, 2009Some small businesses are finding a silver lining in the recessionary clouds: they suddenly have leverage with their landlords.
In Midtown, the Return of a Barfly?s Paradise
Posted on January 26, 2009The Holland Bar, a tiny dive on Ninth Avenue in Hell?s Kitchen, is back in business after plans to sell the building or convert it to residential space fell through.
Encouraged to Socialize, but Not to Criticize, Ex-Tenants Say
Posted on January 25, 2009A former tenant of an apartment complex whose trademark was its sense of community and fun was surprised when the real estate company declined to renew his lease.
Holding On at Building Stripped to Timbers
Posted on December 17, 2008a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/nyregion/06about.html?partner=rssnytemc=rss"img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/12/06/nyregion/about_75.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"/aIt is hard to walk through the building at 452 Fort Washington Avenue in Upper Manhattan and not catch a whiff of madness.
Q A; Prospective Buyers Seek Information on a Co-op
Posted on December 17, 2008Q We're interested in buying a co-op. How can we familiarize ourselves with the building's rules and records before making the seller an offer? Are the building's rules accessible to any inquirer? A ''This letter touches on a very sensitive issue involving the prerogatives of co-op boards,'' said Andrew S...
Eviction Anxiety Rattles a Formerly Subsidized Upper Manhattan Building
Posted on December 17, 2008a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/nyregion/16building.html?partner=rssnytemc=rss"img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/10/16/nyregion/16building.75.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"/aHundreds of residents at 3333 Broadway say the new owner is systematically harassing them in hopes of replacing them with higher-paying tenants.
Mystery Man
Posted on December 17, 2008a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/nyregion/thecity/12neig.html?partner=rssnytemc=rss"img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/10/12/nyregion/thecity/12neig.75.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"/aShe pictured her neighbor a tall, dark stranger with a taste for serious reading matter...
Applications and Identity Theft
Posted on December 17, 2008a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/garden/25fix.html?partner=rssnytemc=rss"img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/09/24/garden/28fix-75.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"/aWhat safeguards are in place to protect personal data once it has been disclosed on a co-op, condo or rental application?
Will Hallway Improvements Lead to a Rent Increase?
Posted on December 17, 2008Will Hallway Improvements.
Accessible Homes? Not Really, Say Disabled Residents
Posted on December 17, 2008a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/nyregion/25handicap.html?partner=rssnytemc=rss"img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/08/25/nyregion/25handi.751.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="75" hspace="4" align="left"/aDevelopers and landlords in New York City may have to spend millions of dollars to renovate thousands of apartments to comply with federal housing laws.
Hanging on in a Building Stripped to Its Timbers
Posted on December 05, 2008It is hard to walk through the building at 452 Fort Washington Avenue in Upper Manhattan and not catch a whiff of madness.
A New Start as Tenants, Until Foreclosure Calls
Posted on November 11, 2008Soon after moving to a new apartment, Celestee Young Tate discovered that the building was in foreclosure -- and she and in her daughter in danger of eviction.
Q & A; Prospective Buyers Seek Information on a Co-op
Posted on October 26, 2008Q We're interested in buying a co-op. How can we familiarize ourselves with the building's rules and records before making the seller an offer? Are the building's rules accessible to any inquirer? A ''This letter touches on a very sensitive issue involving the prerogatives of co-op boards,'' said Andrew S...
Eviction Anxiety Rattles a Formerly Subsidized Upper Manhattan Building
Posted on October 16, 2008Hundreds of residents at 3333 Broadway say the new owner is systematically harassing them in hopes of replacing them with higher-paying tenants.
Mystery Man
Posted on October 11, 2008She pictured her neighbor a tall, dark stranger with a taste for serious reading matter. The reality proved very different.
Applications and Identity Theft
Posted on September 25, 2008What safeguards are in place to protect personal data once it has been disclosed on a co-op, condo or rental application?
Will Hallway Improvements Lead to a Rent Increase?
Posted on September 14, 2008Will Hallway Improvements.
Accessible Homes? Not Really, Say Disabled Residents
Posted on August 25, 2008Developers and landlords in New York City may have to spend millions of dollars to renovate thousands of apartments to comply with federal housing laws.
Tenant Group Alleges Harassment
Posted on August 23, 2008A group of tenant advocates has accused a landlord group in the East Village last year of harassing longtime residents in an effort to oust them so the units could be renovated and the rents raised.
Landlord Group Sues the City Over a Law Meant to Stop the Harassment of Tenants
Posted on August 20, 2008Under the new law, landlords can be taken to court for threatening tenants, interrupting essential services like heat and hot water and filing baseless court actions.
U.S. Says Many Apartments Violate Law on Disabled
Posted on August 19, 2008Developers and landlords may need to spend tens of millions of dollars to renovate city apartments to comply with laws barring discrimination against tenants who use wheelchairs.
State?s Take on Demolition Roils Renters and Owners
Posted on August 13, 2008Manhattan tenants? advocates have complained that the lack of a precise definition of demolition has allowed landlords to push out low-rent tenants and create luxury condominiums.
The Landlord Knocks, and Tempers Flare
Posted on August 10, 2008Tenants of a building are fighting a hefty rent increase that the landlord says came from work that enhanced the value of the building.
Damage When the Water Was Turned Back On
Posted on August 09, 2008My building shut off the water supply one morning because of a pipe emergency in the basement. As a result, I inadvertently left my water taps in my bathroom in the open position while getting ready for work.
Low Rent, East Side Location: See Landlord, if You?re Famous
Posted on July 21, 2008Few rental buildings in the city have been as hospitable to public officials as the Rudin Management Company?s high rise at 215 East 68th Street.
Landlords, if Only by Accident
Posted on July 20, 2008The housing market morass has created a new class of real estate investors: the unintentional landlords.
Rangel?s Rental Looking Glass
Posted on July 20, 2008Lawyers in the world of rent stabilization say that in past decades landlords routinely allowed tenants to rent more than one apartment.
Paying Moving-Out Fees in a Rental in a Condo
Posted on July 20, 2008The building that I live in is a condominium, and I rent from the owner of the apartment. My lease is up and I will be moving. I was just informed that I have to pay $150 to move out. Is it legal to be charged a moving-out fee?
Rangel?s Neighbors See a Rent Double Standard
Posted on July 17, 2008Residents of a Harlem development say prominent people like Representative Charles B. Rangel get a better deal.
In City?s Complex Rent Laws, Some Details That Could Undermine Rangel?s Deal
Posted on July 17, 2008Representative Charles B. Rangel?s landlord would have multiple grounds on which to try to force him out if it wanted to.
Can a Landlord Remove a Tenant?s Door Lock?
Posted on July 13, 2008I live in a rent-stabilized apartment and have installed my own locks on the front door. My landlord is planning to replace these locks with his own.
Awarding Contracts to Board Members
Posted on June 29, 2008Is it legal or ethical for a board to award major contracts to a business owned by a member of a co-op board?
Applicant Checks May Dig Deep
Posted on June 26, 2008Most applicants to a condo or co-op board understand that they will be investigated, but they may not realize to what extent.
To Avoid Student Turnover, Parents Get Rent Help
Posted on June 24, 2008In response to the turmoil in Flint schools, Michigan is giving some families $100 a month to help them stay put.
For Rent-Stabilized Tenants, Increases Raise Fear
Posted on June 23, 2008Many low-income tenants in rent-stabilized homes are likely to be hit with a higher-than-expected increase.
Renewal Leases and Landlords? Obligations
Posted on June 22, 2008How many days before a lease expires does a landlord have to send a tenant a renewal lease?
Group Wields Racketeering Law Against Landlords to Combat Illegal Immigration
Posted on June 22, 2008A federal lawsuit challenging the right of landlords to rent to illegal immigrants has stoked tensions over immigration in Plainfield, N.J.
A Case of Liability and a Leaky Ice Maker
Posted on June 22, 2008What if your insurance company says you aren?t liable, but your apartment building does?
Board Backs Rise in Rent Up to 8.5%
Posted on June 20, 2008Rents on stabilized apartments are set to get their biggest increases in years, angering tenants who say high rents are forcing the poor and working class out of the city.
Rent Board Gives Landlords and Tenants a Chance to Vent
Posted on June 17, 2008The second of two scheduled public hearings gave landlords and tenants a microphone and three minutes to speak to the New York City Rent Guidelines Board.
Landlord?s Dream Confronts Rent-Stabilized Lives
Posted on June 16, 2008A landlord wants to turn his building into a home for his family. But his rent-stabilized tenants don?t want to leave.
Staying in the Apartment for an Extra Month
Posted on June 16, 2008I plan to vacate my apartment one month past the expiration of the lease because I am moving out of state. My landlord tells me to sign a lease for a whole year and to sign a letter saying I am responsible for rent if he is unable to replace me with another tenant...
The Right to Read the Board?s Minutes
Posted on June 08, 2008Our new co-op lawyer has stated that under New York corporate law we now do not have the right to read minutes of the board of directors? meetings. Is the lawyer right?
Q&A; When a Landlord Won't Return a Security Deposit
Posted on June 08, 2008Q I moved into an apartment on a one-year lease. Thirty days before the end of my lease, I gave notice to vacate and requested, in writing, the return of my security deposit and interest. I moved out on March 2 and have yet to receive a check or a notice stating that the landlord was keeping the deposit...
Maintenance Fees: How a Co-op Sets Them
Posted on June 05, 2008Can tax deductions for a co-op be set on a per-share basis while maintenance allocation is not?
It?s Where You Live That Matters
Posted on June 05, 2008Does maintaining multiple residences or holding investment properties threaten your right to live in a rent-stabilized apartment?
When a Landlord Won?t Return a Security Deposit
Posted on June 01, 2008What should a tenant do to get a security deposit back after moving out?
If a Terrace Is Unusable, Is the Rent Reduced?
Posted on May 28, 2008Am I entitled to a rent reduction for construction that makes my terrace impossible to use?
Tenants Roiled by Challenges on Residency
Posted on May 27, 2008Tishman Speyer Properties has accused hundreds of rent-stabilized tenants in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village in Manhattan of living elsewhere.
Rent Adjustments While Elevators Are Replaced
Posted on May 25, 2008Are there any regulations regarding rent adjustments during elevator replacements?
Passing Along the Cost of Landscaping
Posted on May 25, 2008Will the management be able to pass off the cost of the landscaping to rent-stabilized tenants as a major capital improvement?
Can a Bargain Rent Have Staying Power?
Posted on May 11, 2008For landlords and tenants in rent-stabilized buildings, few issues are more important than ?preferential rent.?
My Landlord, My Curator
Posted on May 11, 2008A landlord has transformed the family business three five-story yellow brick apartment buildings in Washington Heights into what he calls living galleries.
Suburban Office Market Uneasy but Holding Up
Posted on May 07, 2008When landlords start calling, one broker said, ?I know the winds are shifting,? but whether the market is just slowing or skidding toward recession remains unclear.
Board?s Proposal for Rent Increases Disappoints Landlords and Tenants Alike
Posted on May 06, 2008The city?s Rent Guidelines Board recommended increases of 3.5 percent to 7 percent for one-year leases and 5.5 percent to 9.5 percent for two-year leases for rent-stabilized apartments .
After Repairs to Building, Artists Return to Their Lofts
Posted on May 06, 2008More than 100 artists have begun to return to their loft spaces in Brooklyn, about three months after the Fire Department cited their landlord for a flurry of code violations.
When a Landlord Sells the Property
Posted on May 04, 2008If we have a signed lease through August 2009, can it be terminated before that date by the new owner?
Parceling Out Power to the People
Posted on May 04, 2008Energy prices are rising, and many co-op and condo buildings are looking for ways to cut costs. Basically, there are two options.
Listed on a Deed With His Parents
Posted on April 30, 2008What determines who inherits a property with multiple people listed on the deed?
Getting Access to Fix a Leaky Bathroom
Posted on April 27, 2008Can a landlord force a tenant to provide access to an apartment to make repairs?
When Multiple Names Are on a Stabilized Lease
Posted on April 20, 2008Can a landlord consider the income of a non-resident when aiming to remove an apartment from rent stabilization?
Charging Rent for a Spare Room
Posted on April 20, 2008Can I charge more than half my total monthly rent for a spare room?
Relief Possible for Tenants Caught in Landlord?s Default
Posted on April 16, 2008Help may be in sight for apartment dwellers in Texas who have been living in deteriorating conditions since their landlord defaulted on hundreds of millions of dollars? worth of mortgages.
Help Is Available
Posted on April 13, 2008Knowing where to turn when your building falls apart can be difficult.
Even Renters Aren?t Safe
Posted on April 13, 2008The subprime crisis is affecting tenants, too, as landlords default on their mortgages.
Parking: What Happens in a Condo Conversion?
Posted on April 06, 2008Will I be entitled to keep my space if I choose not to buy my apartment in a condo conversion?
The Tightwad’s Legacy
Posted on April 06, 2008By the time Bill Gottlieb died, he had bought up more than 100 properties — dilapidated, perhaps, but in prime Lower Manhattan. The trouble is, he also left behind a fractious family to fight over them.
Q & A
Posted on April 06, 2008Q I rent an apartment in Manhattan and was subletting a room to the friend of a co-worker. One day, he moved out, with no notice, while I was at work. He still owes me a month's rent and his share of the utilities and other bills we split. We had a verbal agreement that I would get a month's notice...
As a Weaker Office Market Looms, Landlords Bargain
Posted on April 02, 2008The credit squeeze is gradually putting tenants in the driver’s seat in Manhattan’s office market.
Q & A; Paying for the Elevator
Posted on March 31, 2008QWe own a condominium in a 10-unit building. The elevator needs a major overhaul, estimated to cost about $50,000. We live on the first floor and hardly use the elevator. Why do we have to pay for something we do not use?
If a Roommate Moves Without Giving Notice
Posted on March 30, 2008What recourse does a jilted roommate have?
Q & A; When a Co-op Board Beats the Bushes for Votes
Posted on March 24, 2008QAt a recent annual shareholders' meeting, my co-op had a vote to increase the flip tax. To pass such a change would require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all outstanding shares. The tally was about eight percentage points short of the necessary 66...
Can Sponsors Employ Their Own Managers?
Posted on March 23, 2008Must the managing agent for the co-op and sponsor-owned apartments be the same?
Must a New Owner Return a Security Deposit?
Posted on March 16, 2008What happens to a deposit when a building is sold?
New Law Lets Tenants Sue Over Harassment
Posted on March 14, 2008Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg signed a bill into law on Thursday that for the first time gives tenants the right to sue their landlords in Housing Court for using threats and other forms of harassment to force them out.
Can a Co-op Board Waive the Flip Tax?
Posted on March 02, 2008Would doing so be a breach of the board’s fiduciary responsibility?
Q & A; If a Board Nonmember Sits In ...
Posted on March 02, 2008QI live in a New York City co-op. I recently learned that the board president's wife was present when a prospective buyer had her board interview. Is this legal? A ''Although not illegal, it is certainly inappropriate for the board president's wife, who is not on the board, to participate in an interview unless she was designated as a member of the admissions committee,'' said Stuart M...
Can a Sponsor’s Tenant Be Evicted in Queens?
Posted on February 24, 2008Does a building’s sponsor have the legal right to evict renters in a converted co-op building?
Bronx Landlord Fined and Sentenced to 9 Days in Jail for Code Violations
Posted on February 21, 2008A Bronx landlord, Hamid Khan, was sentenced to nine days in jail and fined $156,000 for failing to correct more than a thousand housing code violations in the 94-unit, 6-story building he owns at 1055 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development said on Wednesday.
No ‘D.I.Y.’ Rent Laws, Court of Appeals Rules
Posted on February 18, 2008The ruling makes it clear that landlords and tenants cannot ignore provisions of rent-stabilization laws, even if they do so voluntarily.
Q & A; Can a Condo Board Change the Bylaws?
Posted on February 18, 2008Q The board of managers of our condominium issued a ruling that any owner who is delinquent in paying the monthly common charge cannot vote at the annual meeting. Our bylaws state that each unit owner is entitled to one vote. Doesn't this ruling require a change in the bylaws? And doesn't a change in the bylaws require a two-thirds vote of unit owners? A Steven Sladkus, a Manhattan co-op and condominium lawyer, said the letter writer is correct...
How Long Is a Tenant Entitled to Insider Price?
Posted on February 11, 2008Can a longtime renter who wants to buy get a discount 20 years after a building went co-op?
After Evacuation, Artists Begin an Effort to Save Their Haven
Posted on February 11, 2008Roughly 200 residents of an 11-story warehouse in South Williamsburg are tackling every violation they could with their landlords unexpectedly on their side.
Whose Responsibility Is a Terrace Door?
Posted on February 11, 2008If a co-op is responsible for a terrace, can a tenant be responsible for the door leading to it?
Q & A; A Roommate's Rights
Posted on February 11, 2008Q I live in a rent-stabilized apartment in New York City. I have heard that if someone moves in with me, after two years he can claim the right to remain in the apartment. What if I don't want him to stay? A ''A roommate cannot claim a tenant's rent-stabilized apartment after two years of occupancy over the objection of the tenant,'' said Thomas P...
A Roommate’s Rights
Posted on February 04, 2008If someone moves in with me, can he claim the right to remain after two years?
A Tenant Wants a Lease for More Than One Year
Posted on February 04, 2008Is a landlord required to offer a multiyear lease?
It’s No Easy Task to Fire a Super
Posted on February 04, 2008Teachers have tenure. Justices of the Supreme Court have lifetime appointments. And many New York City building superintendents have their union.
Must a Landlord’s Fee Apply to All Tenants?
Posted on February 04, 2008Is it legal to charge only some tenants a fee for each air-conditioning unit?
Q & A; Will Offering Plans Be Online?
Posted on February 03, 2008QCan the offering plan for a condo be found on the Internet? A ''Not yet,'' said Alfred M. Taffae, a Manhattan co-op and condo lawyer.
Will Offering Plans Be Online?
Posted on January 29, 2008Can a condo’s offering plan be found on the Internet?
YOUR HOME; Save a Therm, Get $2 or Even $2.50
Posted on January 29, 2008THE settlement of a rate case involving the Consolidated Edison Company and New York State's Public Service Commission could save owners of residential buildings with five or more apartments -- including co-ops and condominiums -- significant amounts of money if they upgrade their heating systems this year...
Save a Therm, Get $2 or Even $2.50
Posted on January 22, 2008Owners of residential buildings could save significant amounts of money if they upgrade their heating systems this year.
Q & A; Is the Apartment Rent Stabilized, or Not?
Posted on January 17, 2008Should a tenant sign a lease that requests a higher rent than would be allowed under stabilization laws?
Q & A; A Renter’s Right to a Pet in a Condo Building
Posted on January 17, 2008Can a condominium allow owners to own dogs while forbidding renters from doing the same?
Q & A; In Dispute With a Landlord Over a Deposit
Posted on January 17, 2008QOn Nov. 19, my landlord told me that he was raising the rent $100 and that the increase would take effect with the new lease. Our lease was up on Nov. 30, giving us only 11 days to respond. We decided we didn't want to pay the higher rent, so within 24 hours of being notified of the increase, we let our landlord know that we would not be renewing...
Co-ops Get a Break on Revenue Rules
Posted on January 17, 2008A provision in a recent mortgage law could enable some co-ops to realize much more revenue from commercial tenants.
Q & A; Luxury Deregulation: Determining Income
Posted on January 17, 2008QWe live in a rent-stabilized apartment. By 2010, the rent will exceed $2,000 a month. (In January, when our renewal lease goes into effect, the rent will be $1,980.) Since tenants' adjusted gross income must exceed $175,000 for two consecutive years for an apartment renting for more than $2,000 to be deregulated, my question is: Which two years are considered? Will they be 2008 and 2009, or 2007 and 2008?
Dueling Bills in the Fight Over Housing
Posted on January 17, 2008Two bills are being proposed in the City Council: one allowing tenants to sue landlords for harassment, and another, counterintuitively, allowing landlords to sue tenants for harassment.
In Co-ops, ‘Equality’ Can Be a Bit Elastic
Posted on January 17, 2008Sometimes co-ops want to impose fees that are not calculated on a per-share basis.
School Moves to Sell Its Middle-Class Housing
Posted on January 17, 2008On June 6, Meryl Fenster, a retired public school teacher, arrived home to find a letter from her landlord taped to her front door. It said that her building — the last one on the Upper West Side to offer subsidized rental apartments under the state’s Mitchell-Lama program — was being sold to a private developer.
Q & A; Reviewing a Co-op Board's Power to Impose a Flip Tax
Posted on January 17, 2008QDoes a co-op need approval from 100 percent of its shareholders to institute a flip tax? A Typically, no, said Stewart Wurtzel, a Manhattan co-op and condo lawyer. In fact, Mr. Wurtzel said, there are some co-ops whose governing documents allow the board to institute a flip tax -- or modify an existing tax -- without shareholder approval.
And Now, Your Honor, Exhibit 1: The Litter Box
Posted on January 17, 2008A landlord’s threat of eviction over a woman’s cats ends with the tenant landing on her feet.
A-Rod’s Properties and Charity Suggest Some Stinginess
Posted on January 17, 2008Alex Rodriguez isn’t exactly a slumlord, but he has become a landlord caricature among some of those who live in the properties that he owns and operates.
A Place to Call Home: Preserving Middle-Class New Yorkers
Posted on January 17, 2008The last thing New York City needs is to become an oasis for the rich with no affordable places for ordinary folks. That is not a real city — it is a wealthy ghetto.
Buildings’ Boards: Who’s in Control?
Posted on January 17, 2008As more and more tenant owners move into a newbuilding, when does the sponsor give up control?
Q & A; Can Residents Agree To Lower the Heat Setting?
Posted on January 17, 2008QNormally, a rent-stabilized building must maintain each apartment at a minimum of 68 degrees from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. when the outside temperature is under 55 degrees.
Pins and Needles
Posted on January 17, 2008The garment district, long shrunk by the flow of jobs abroad, is also grappling with a robust city economy that has, paradoxically, made clothing firms fearful and their landlords frustrated.
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This has happened 3 or 4 times a month now- they have turned the electric off 2 days consecutively, the water off about 9 or 10 times now, and our heat has broken 5 times (once it would not shut off, and we were forced t
i say stick with the apartment. eventually, everything possible will be replaced...
Is a child fathered out of wedlock by an American diplomat to a foreign women on foreign soil entitled to US Citizenship by jus sanguinis?
This is a very tough situation your friend is in. It is difficult to know the ex...
I live in NC and we are renting a 2 bedroom apartment for $800 a month. We have not been late or anything at all since we moved in.We have utilities included in our apartment. The landlord is constantly telling us to cut
just chip in for the light bill, or if that dont work, offer to pay the entire b...
Haw can I join with my family who live in the USA?
Only you are allowed to can join your sister....
Bar issues include constant trash in front of my business, left over open containers of alcohol and broken beer bottles in parking lot. Overnight parking in front of my business from bar customers who drank too much and
Find out about city ordinances. Talk to them and see how they can help; be court...
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