help with lease renewal


Hello wise, experienced Brownstoners,

My husband and I currently rent a 2BR/1BA in CG that we moved into Sept 2008 (height of rental market). We are clean, responsible tenants, and always pay the rent on time.

We think that we are currently overpaying by about 20% (maybe more–we have studied the comps). In addition, we pay heat and all utilities.

We would like to renew our lease at a reduced rate, but we are also looking to buy an apartment, so we would like some flexibility in our lease should we find something to buy in the next year. We do not underestimated the difficulties our landlord would face if we ended up needing to move in a non-prime rental month, and understand our responsibilities for finding a new tenant and giving plenty of notice, or being on the hook for the rent owed toward the remainder of the lease.

However, our landlord has offered a one-year lease renewal consisting of 9% reduction and no “right to cancel” or a 2 year lease with 8% reduction, no right to cancel 1st year and right to cancel in 2nd year with 3 months notice and 2 months penalty.

Does this seem reasonable? We are concerned that if we had to move, we would be unable to find an acceptable tenant at the “inflated” rent we are paying. Of course we cannot entirely predict what the market will do over the next year…

Thanks for the help!

Categories: Tenants
By cgjoro | 06/17/2009 3:48 PM | Comment

Non-toxic product to keep recycling area vermin free


We live in a 10 unit apartment building with a shared recycling room. The super keeps a very toxic smelling substance in the room that he claims keeps it free of vermin. However the smell is overwhelming, like a cherry-mothball-chemical scented giant urinal cake. Anyone know of a non-toxic greener alternative? My eyes literally burn every time I dispose of a can or a newspaper, and the smell permeates the common hallways. Thanks!

Categories: Odor
By cgjoro | 09/27/2008 8:20 PM | Comment