March 31, 2008

Rent Control Revisited

I recently looked at a four story house that is divided into an owners duplex, one rental with no lease, and one additional rental that is rent controlled. I believe the rent controlled tenant inherited the apartment from his/her mother.

I read the posts on this site following the NYT article on rent control this past October. I'm wondering -- is anyone willing to share stories on rent control buy-outs or evictions? Does that ever happen? If so, how much time and money have owners spent to remove rent controlled tenants?

Condo Sublet Issue

Someone in our condo building is trying to split their duplex unit into two and sublet it out to 2 different people. Is this legal?

March 22, 2008

Fraudulent Rent Registration

I have the same problems with these scum bags in queens. I live in the Opal a 80/20 so called luxury building. Can you believe these lying fucks registered my 1 br apt to DCHR for $5,500. This was three years ago! Can any body tell where in ***king Queens u can find a 1 br apt for $5,500 ?!

March 18, 2008

Looking for a sublet

We (non-smoking married couple plus dog&cat)are looking for a sublet for the months of May and June. We have recently bought in PLG and need a temporary apt. (1 or 2 br) while the PLG house is being renovated.
If you know of anything, please contact me at m-limberger@hotmail.com
Thanks!

March 16, 2008

Weird electricity bill question

We have a 2-family house that is fully tenanted (married and moved out). My new top-floor tenant just told me she's gotten a HUGE first electricity bill--$182 instead of the $40~odd she got in her last place. Any ideas where to begin to locate the source of the problem? Do I call Keyspan, an electrician, any other ideas of what to try first?

March 11, 2008

question for landlords

Renting a floorthough apt in my private brownstone. Potential tenant wants a 3 year lease from the start. Would you give a 3 year lease to a new tenant or should i start off with a 1 year and take it from there once the tenant has proven to be a good one?

March 6, 2008

Residential vs. Office rental?

We just bought a 3-story victorian house in Ditmas Park and the first floor is a 1700 sq/ft rental--currently a doctor's office. We plan to continue to rent it out but can't decide if it's better to keep it as an office or to turn it into a residential rental (c of o allows for both). The layout could go either way as well--we'd obviously need to do more renovations if we turn it into an office, which were willing to do if it's worth it.

So any thoughts or experiences with renting out an office versus an apartment would be much appreciated. As would ideas about which make better tenants, overall. Because we'll be living on the second and third floors, we're leaning toward an office--more privacy at night, less strain on building, maybe even less expensive to maintain. But we're novices here.

Any ideas or advice?

Thanks...

March 4, 2008

Tenant in brownstone currently on market

I'm a tenant in a home that was recently listed with a realtor. It's a 2 family in Bed-Stuy and former Brownstoner House of the Day.

As a renter, I'm not sure of my rights. The owner, who does not want to sell, has been very forthcoming throughout the process. She has assured the other tenant and I that our lease must be honored by any buyer. The lease runs through December 2008. I'm not sure what, if anything, I should be doing to be proactive in this process. I love this house, and had planned on being a long term tenant. From other's experiences, is it time to start looking? Does it serve my interest to be proactive with any prospective buyers? Or am I screwed? The home is listed as a current duplex, but "ideal" for a single-family conversion. As I live in the 3rd and 4th floor duplex units, this is a little frightening to hear.

Can anyone pass along advice?

March 1, 2008

Polling all Landlords on Rent Increases

I have very good tenants in one of my apartments, paying about $500-700 below market-value. The apartment has garden access, basement storage and a washer/dryer in the cellar.

I wish I didn't have to raise the rent, as these people have become friends, but I'm being hit by water and gas increases that are making my head spin!

Is anyone aware of a percentage increase that can be applied to the utility increases we've experienced (it's a 4 family house)?

And, regardless of the percentage question, I'd love to get input on what people are doing for rent increases.

From what I can see, this is a very desirable neighborhood, with little inventory available.

Thanks!

Forum: Renters