Feature

Follow Five Rules to Avoid Source-of-Income Discrimination

March 21, 2014    

In New York City, the NYC Commission on Human Rights is charged with enforcing local fair housing laws. The New York City Human Rights Law is one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws in the nation. The law prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, creed, age, national...

How to Collect 2014–15 MBR Increases for Rent-Controlled Units

February 24, 2014    

The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) recently updated its Web site with the necessary forms you have to fill out to start the process for increasing the rents of your rent-controlled apartments during the 2014–15 maximum base rent (MBR) cycle. Once you receive the orders of...

Four Reasons You Can Use to Legally Refuse Tenant's Sublet Request

January 27, 2014    

If a rent-stabilized tenant asks your permission to sublet an apartment, you may legally refuse that request only if you have a good reason. Owners can’t “unreasonably” say no to a sublet request, according to the state’s sublet law [Section 226-b of the New York Real...

How to Calculate Rent Increases for Temporarily Exempt Apartments

December 18, 2013    

Rent-stabilized apartments are sometimes temporarily exempt from rent stabilization. For example, while they’re occupied by the owner they are considered exempt. But when a new tenant moves in, the apartment reverts back to stabilization. In addition, you can collect the rent guidelines...

Charging Extra Fees for Items or Services—What’s OK, What’s Not

November 21, 2013    

You may believe you have a right to charge extra fees to rent-stabilized tenants for certain items or services. For example, you may want to charge your tenants a fee for paying rent late or for taking over use of the elevator when moving furniture into their apartments.

Use Five Arguments to Avoid Rent Cuts Over Service Complaints

October 24, 2013    

As an apartment building owner, you constantly face the prospect of rent-stabilized and rent-controlled tenants getting rent cuts over service complaints. The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has the authority to grant rent cuts for a wide variety of service problems.

How to Get Proper Consent for Improvements/New Equipment Rent Hike

September 24, 2013    

If you want to collect a rent hike for making improvements to, or installing new equipment in, an occupied rent-stabilized apartment, you must get the tenant’s written consent to the rent hike. If you don’t do this properly and the tenant challenges the rent hike by filing a rent...

How to Respond to Tenants Who Pose Health or Safety Risks

September 5, 2013    

By Eileen O’Toole, Esq.

Sometimes staff or neighboring tenants may complain about behavior by a tenant that poses a health or safety risk. They may say that a neighbor keeps animals that he’s unable to care for, or simply keeps too many. They may complain that a...

Keep Tenant Who Breaks Lease Early on the Hook for Rent Owed

August 22, 2013    

If a tenant tells you that she’s moving out before her lease ends and she stops paying rent, it usually isn’t a big deal. In the best case scenario, you’ll be able to quickly re-rent the apartment to a qualified tenant and apply the former tenant’s security deposit toward...

How to Discourage and Wipe Your Building Free of Graffiti

July 24, 2013    

Building owners and managers often complain about graffiti. It’s not only unsightly but can lead to other problems. It can deter people from wanting to rent at your building, lower the quality of life there, and invite additional crime. Also, if you don’t remove the graffiti within a...

When to Include Engineer/Architect Fees in MCI Increase Applications

June 21, 2013    

When you get a major capital improvement (MCI) performed at your building, you may hire a consultant such as an engineer or architect in addition to the contractor doing the work. For example, you may hire an engineer when you get your building’s parapet replaced. Can you include the...

Save 18 Key Documents in Tenants’ Files to Avoid Rent, Eviction Problems

May 20, 2013    

As an owner or manager, you probably deal with dozens of different documents relating to rent-stabilized tenants. For example, you have leases and renewal leases to fill out and sign, apartment registrations to file with the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), and window guard and...