Renegotiating with Landlord?


I pay $1,475 a month for a nice and newly renovated by small junior 1 bedroom in Greenpoint. I’ve been here almost 2 years – my lease is up at the end of June. But I was laid off last month and am living off of my severance and unemployment for now, and I called my landlord to let him now that I would need to break my lease early and was planning on moving out at the end of April. I thought 2 months notice was fair, and it is silly for me to pay so much when I could move into a 2 bedroom in the area with a roommate for less than $1,000 a month, probably even around $800 a month for a decent place seems possible now. My landlord took it well, but suggested that he might be able to drop the rent so I can stay for the duration of my lease, and he asked me to call him back soon. I am not sure how much of a decrease I can reasonably ask for, or if he could go low enough that it would be worth staying. Does anyone with experience in the market now have any insight? Thanks!

Categories: Renters
By canyouwink | 02/27/2009 9:48 AM | Comment

Noisy Neighbor Behind Brick Wall


I have a next door neighbor that likes to play guitar jazz really loudly at all hours of the day and night. We are not in the same building and are separated by a brick wall, which you might think keeps the sound out but it really doesn’t do much good. And since the wall is brick I can’t really bang on it, and since he is not in my building I can’t just try to talk to him in the hallway. I left a note and it got better for a little while, I have tried calling 311 and the local precinct, but they show up and don’t hear anything outside so they leave. I think the apartment is a rental, would it be possible to find out who the landlord is and speak to them directly, or does anyone have any other advice?

Categories: Quality of Life
By canyouwink | 06/20/2008 3:16 PM | Comment