September 30, 2009

Local Realtors?

We've been away from Brooklyn for a little over 3 years and will be moving back soon. I know there's been lot's of change in the borough and it looks like we may need to do some of our apartment search remotely...

Any recommendations for great, local realtors for Windsor Terrace, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene,...
would be very appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

September 29, 2009

30-Day Notice Req'd?

My lease came up in August and I've been paying month to month and just informed my landlord that I'll be moving out Oct 7. I'm wondering if I have any legal obligation to pay an entire month's rent to have given 30 days notice. Is there a law requiring us to pay the entire month?

The reason we are leaving is because of potential safety issues. We are choosing to move instead of bringing in inspectors, which we could do, if necessary, to prove her delinquency.

September 25, 2009

Old Gas Lines Safe?

Hello,
I live in the top floor rental of a turn-of-the century brownstone. Recently (after permission from our landlord) I removed the very outdated light fixture in our bedroom, only to hear a slight hissing sound and smell the room start to fill with gas. I immediately put the fixture back in place and called our landlord who didn't think much of it and suggested we have her handyman install the new light fixture if we didn't feel comfortable doing it ourselves.

Sure enough the handyman was just as skeptical as we were. It is unclear whether the gas line is 100% closed off and there is also old, scrambled electrical wiring running adjacent.

With this knowledge, our landlord is still unconcerned. The handyman closed off the fixture which appears to also act as a cap to the gas line. Now we are left wondering whether this is potentially a very serious safety issue. We are about to sign a new lease and want to make sure the building is safe. What is the best way to find out whether the current set-up is dangerous?

Thanks.

Renters Insurance

Moving into a Bay Ridge apartment on Dec.1. Who do you guys recommend for renters insurance?

[ will my iphone be covered :) ]

September 23, 2009

No Fee Elevator Buildings?

I am trying to come with a list of buildings in Brooklyn heights and the surrounding areas for a relative who may be moving here in November for 8, maybe 9 months. Specifically, I'd like to find buildings where the property managers are directly negotiating with possible tenants and so can cut out the middleman on both fees and also back and forth on negotiating unusual length of lease terms.

I'm aware of the Archstone property on Montague, the Two Trees' Court House building, and I guess Two Trees also has some other properties on Atlantic. (Also, I know that One Brooklyn Bridge is also renting directly but that may be a bit removed).

Any other ideas?
Thanks in advance.

September 18, 2009

Signing 1-Year Lease

I found a nice apartment in Bay Ridge. The current tenant (a friend of the gf) pays 1,100 a month. She warned us that the landlord might want to raise it to 1200, as he raises it "for every new tenant". I've read people actually bargaining down prices in rent. How can I go about telling him not to raise it? His selling point is we have the backyard to ourselves. Its pretty big. The apartment too is about 800 square feet. We really want the place. Any thoughts?

September 13, 2009

Prospect Towers in Park Slope

Hello,
I'm looking at an apartment in the Prospect Towers, 341 10th Street. Does anyone have any information on this building? The apartment is newly renovated, but I'm unsure about the condition of the building and the management company.
Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

September 12, 2009

Tenant Rights

I am a rent stabilized tenant of 25 years. The elderly landlord's sons have taken over management of the bldg and are trying to make our life aggravating in every possible way. Is there some reference setting out my rights as a tenant? Can I for instance replace, at my own expense, worn out decrepit open shelving, or repaint a floor that we painted many times with landlord's consent but is now badly distressed? What behavior on their part becomes harassment? I'd like to give them some of their own attitude back but want to know the legal limits. Thanks.

September 9, 2009

Confusing Lease Notice

We had a lease that went from Aug 15 2008 - Aug 15 2009.
In the lease it states that if I want to renew the lease or end the lease I need to give at least 60 days notice so the landlord have time to find a new tenant. I told him when it was less than 30 days left until the termination of the lease ending date (Aug 15), thinking the lease was expiring on the Aug 15 anyway and there is no automatic renewal in the lease or mention of month to month. Really confusing. He said nothing to me when I told him that we were leaving, just a OK, no problem.

Now my security deposit is being used to pay for the rent until my Landlord finds a new tenant, since he claims I never fulfilled the 2 months notice the lease says. He is also starting to accuse me for damages in the house common areas. The landlord refuses to listen and have nor stopped communicating with me. His last word was, you will hear from us when whatever is left of your deposit shows up in the mail.

If a lease terminates at a date without a option to automatic renewal, do you need to notify by law if you don't intend to stay?

Also I paid to much in rent I found out since he added $150 to the rent after it was signed, claiming extra cost to fix a boiler, this in a email and not in the signed lease.

And is all of this legal action from the landlord?

On a personal note. All other Landlords we have been having for the last 6 years have loved us.
They are still contacting us every now and then when they available apartments to get us back. Not sure if this could be worth something in a court though.

September 8, 2009

Credit Check for Tenants?

Hey small landlords. Do you do a credit check on your prospective tenants, and if so, what agency do you use (and what do you like/dislike about them?).

September 3, 2009

New Construction Turned Rental

I think there may have been a thread about this recently but I can't seem to find it. Can anyone point me to the link, or tell me about the new buildings that have cropped up in Park Slope that have turned into rentals? Any leads would be appreciated...Thanks!

September 1, 2009

Average Rent for Carroll Gardens

Hi Brownstoners,
My wife and I live in a one bedroom in Carroll Gardens. Our lease just ended, and we want to negotiate the rent, but the landlord is stonewalling us, despite a recently moved in tenant below us paying $225 less a month than we do! I'm trying to argue our case because we love the apt, and don't want to incur moving costs. Can anyone recommend resources for finding average rent stats in CG on a monthly basis? I've seen stats for the end of 08, but that seems like it wouldn't reflect the current situation, given the fallout from the economic crisis. Any resources or advice welcome. Thanks!

Forum: Renters