Feature
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.
Management Basics
October 24, 2013
Now that “Heat Season” has officially started on Oct. 1, it may be a good time to review the many city laws and regulations that focus on your building’s boiler room. Four city agencies can hit you with violations related to your building’s boiler and boiler room. Here...
In the News
October 24, 2013
As part of its continuing efforts to make New York City better prepared for future hurricanes, the City Council recently passed a package of legislation that’s intended to strengthen building standards and enhance building and infrastructure resiliency against the effects of future storms...
In the News
October 24, 2013
A 79-year-old rent-stabilized tenant is at the center of a bankruptcy case that may pose a risk to her and the millions of other New Yorkers who live in rent-stabilized apartments.
The tenant, unable to keep up with her bills after her husband’s death, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy two years...
Landlord v. Tenant
October 24, 2013
DOB Violations: Building Staircase Leaning Out of Plumb
DOB issued a violation notice to landlord for failing to maintain its building in a code-compliant manner. DOB's inspector reported that the staircase from the fourth floor to the roof was leaning out of plumb. The stringer, which supports...
Feature
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...
Management Basics
September 24, 2013
The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has just announced an increase in this year’s air-conditioner rent surcharge for owners who pay for electricity. It set the monthly surcharge at $27.89, up from $22.66 last year. This year’s increase reflects a 5.9 percent increase in...
In the News
September 24, 2013
The Department of Buildings announced that the deadline to file 2012 Category 1 Elevator Inspection and Affirmation of Correction Reports has been extended to Dec. 31, 2013. This extension applies to reports for unsatisfactory Category 1 inspections for the calendar year 2012 inspection cycle.
Landlord v. Tenant
September 24, 2013
Eviction: Court Vacates Settlement After Landlord Renews Tenant’s Lease
Landlord sued to evict elderly rent-stabilized tenant in 2009, claiming that tenant refused access to the apartment to exterminate bedbugs. Landlord and tenant signed a settlement agreement in court. Tenant agreed to give...
Feature
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 tenant allows his...
