S
susannyc
Guest
I'm writing in hopes you can offer some advice or assistance in a
problem I'm having with my new landlord. I'm a 57 yr old woman who has
lived in a rent controlled apt in CHelsea for 31 yrs. The bldg has a
small store & 6 apts(others are stabilized) and a small backyard which
has always been available for tenant use. The bldg was sold in July this
year & within weeks the new owner offered several people - including me
- money to vacate - which I refused. He then said that I could no longer
us the backyard to exercise my dogs - nor could it be used for anything
but garbage & reclycables as his liability ins wouldn't cover it. I
offered a written statement obsolving him of any potential liability
which he accepted.On 9/25 I received a letter from his lawyer saying
that he had changed his mind & that any further use would result in
legal action. I did some initial web research which seemed to backup my
assumption that use of the yard for all these years made it a bldg
service & upon preliminary advice from a lawyer so wrote him saying that
all the tenants would continue to use the yard. This past Fri 10/13, I
recived a 2nd letter from his lawyer arguing my assumptions &
threatening me with a holdover with intent to evict if I continued my
use. He is warehousing 2 empty apts in the bldg - 1 empty since July. He
recinded a buy offer he made to another tenant when he found out they
had just had a baby - stating that they were going to move anyway(which
they are not) & has not - as required - sent them a lease renewal for
their apt but has started charging a rent increase.It seems obvious that
this man is looking to empty the building of the existing tenants & then
do something to remove it from stabilization or control. Is there
anything your office can do to be of help? I'm only about 8 years away
from retirement & would like to be able to have peaceful enjoyment of my
home during that time.
You may reach me by return email or by phone - Work # 212-924-9300 x 104
or Home # 212-691-2282
problem I'm having with my new landlord. I'm a 57 yr old woman who has
lived in a rent controlled apt in CHelsea for 31 yrs. The bldg has a
small store & 6 apts(others are stabilized) and a small backyard which
has always been available for tenant use. The bldg was sold in July this
year & within weeks the new owner offered several people - including me
- money to vacate - which I refused. He then said that I could no longer
us the backyard to exercise my dogs - nor could it be used for anything
but garbage & reclycables as his liability ins wouldn't cover it. I
offered a written statement obsolving him of any potential liability
which he accepted.On 9/25 I received a letter from his lawyer saying
that he had changed his mind & that any further use would result in
legal action. I did some initial web research which seemed to backup my
assumption that use of the yard for all these years made it a bldg
service & upon preliminary advice from a lawyer so wrote him saying that
all the tenants would continue to use the yard. This past Fri 10/13, I
recived a 2nd letter from his lawyer arguing my assumptions &
threatening me with a holdover with intent to evict if I continued my
use. He is warehousing 2 empty apts in the bldg - 1 empty since July. He
recinded a buy offer he made to another tenant when he found out they
had just had a baby - stating that they were going to move anyway(which
they are not) & has not - as required - sent them a lease renewal for
their apt but has started charging a rent increase.It seems obvious that
this man is looking to empty the building of the existing tenants & then
do something to remove it from stabilization or control. Is there
anything your office can do to be of help? I'm only about 8 years away
from retirement & would like to be able to have peaceful enjoyment of my
home during that time.
You may reach me by return email or by phone - Work # 212-924-9300 x 104
or Home # 212-691-2282