Love L+B Spumoni Gardens, of course!

Posted by: mh at November 22, 2008 4:58 PM in response to Aunt Suzie's

Sam's
238 Court Street
Yummy!

Posted by: mh at November 22, 2008 9:46 AM in response to Aunt Suzie's

We live in the neighborhood, just finishing up a major project of our two family house -- took the roof off, new central AC, added two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, redid the main floor and finished the basement with a new bathroom. Very happy with our GC Richard of Masterpiece Construction who has done a lot of work in the area on these old homes, including his own. 646-645-2300, tell him Matt recommended.

Posted by: mh at October 31, 2008 9:25 PM in response to Contractor for a Victorian in historic district

We've had great experience with Richard at Masterpiece Construction 646-645-2300. Tell him Matt referred you

Posted by: mh at October 31, 2008 9:15 PM in response to General Contractor Recommendation

Might be interested, where is it located?
email me at mholden0 at lycos dot com

Posted by: mh at October 29, 2008 12:28 PM in response to Oak Roll-Top Desk for Sale

Is there a dumbwaiter or old heating grates? There may be a dead rodent at the bottom or something.

Posted by: mh at October 16, 2008 12:53 PM in response to old house smell?

Try Econ-o-Sewer 718-338-8484.
I've used them and been very happy with results, reasonably priced.

Posted by: mh at October 8, 2008 11:16 AM in response to sewer clog?

I've had good experience with Econ-o-Sewer. Reliable and reasonably priced 718-338-8484

Posted by: mh at September 25, 2008 1:09 PM in response to sewer co. recommendations

try aspenlighting.com

Posted by: mh at September 23, 2008 10:31 AM in response to Lighting Fixtures

I think you'd have a strong case in small claims court. I would call the landlord and try to discuss with him (yeah right), then send a letter informing him that you plan to pursue the legal route. Repainting the apartment is generally part of normal wear and tear, and may even be required by law when a new tenant moves in (though probably never enforced), and the other things you mentioned also sound like normal wear and tear that should not be taken from the security. I am a landlord in a two family, and I think you've been wronged and should pursue this.

Posted by: mh at September 8, 2008 3:42 PM in response to Security Deposit

U-G-L-Y, you aint got no alibi

Posted by: mh at August 28, 2008 11:52 AM in response to BHA Wants Waterfalls Shut Down

Agree with Steve, try Fortunoff's

Posted by: mh at August 11, 2008 12:59 PM in response to where is good place to buy patio furniture?

Agree Warren St in Hudson can be expensive, but we also some good bargains with some searching. There's an armory type place off the main drag that's kind of a clearinghouse, and they'll hook you up with someone to deliver back to Brooklyn

Posted by: mh at July 28, 2008 10:00 PM in response to Antique Road Tour

We used Mondial tile for countertops and were very happy with their service. 718-232-0800

Posted by: mh at July 23, 2008 9:38 AM in response to Inexpensive Ceaserstone

SWARM stands for Stratford, Westminster, Argyle, Rugby and Marlborough, the five streets off of CIA. We bought a two family on Rugby a couple of years ago, just finishing a major renovation, and we love the hood. We have an infant and find the area to be kid and family friendly. It is quite diverse, we feel very safe here. True, it definitely helps to have a car and be able to drive for shopping/restaurants, etc, but overall a good quality of life for a young family.

Posted by: mh at July 22, 2008 11:45 AM in response to thinking of Ditmas Park

Denton,

You wrote:

"Slopefarm has it exactly right when he states:

That's what the landlord is counting on. You probably will (let it slide), and that means you paid an extra $200 per month in rent. And he'll give it to the next tenant too. And so on."

***

I did not write that in my post. More importantly, I do not appreciate being invoked and misquoted in support of your notion that all tenants should live off the security deposit, a position that I did not even agree with when I was a tenant for many years. As you note, the landlords on this site are pissed at what HCB's landlord did. That shows that this is the exception, not the rule, and there is no reason to advocate that tenants, as a matter of course, breach their leases by living off the deposit in every case.

Posted by: slopefarm at September 9, 2008 10:20 AM in response to Security Deposit

Regarding this in NYC law:

"if the tenant honored the terms and conditions of the lease and left the apartment in the same condition as it was when rented, except for normal wear"

What's considered "normal wear" covers a LOT, in the eyes of the court. Simply tell the guy you'll take this to court and he'll probably just give you your money. Because he knows the law is on the tenant's side in these cases.

My friend's mother, a landlord, had a tenant successfully declare water damage from some buckets sitting on a hardwood floor as "normal wear" in court. My friend's mother had to return the deposit to the tenant. Most tenants have no clue they can fight this stuff.

Posted by: traditionalmod at September 9, 2008 8:23 PM in response to Security Deposit

Slopefarm, if you're still reading this, I apologize for what I wrote. I quoted you but it seems the actual quote didn't show up. I think that's an html stoner issue. You said

>>
I think it ultimately comes down to deciding whether you want to put the time and effort into litigating this thing yourself in Housing Court, or let it slide.
>>

The same thing happened with an Arkady quote, it disappeared... anyway...

Then I answered your above quote by saying:
>>
That's what the landlord is counting on. You probably will (let it slide), and that means you paid an extra $200 per month in rent. And he'll give it to the next tenant too. And so on."

OK?

Something else that went unmentioned:

You (the tenant) can win in small claims court, but guess what, you still haven't got your money! Small Claims court will not enforce a judgment against the loser. You will have to enforce the judgment yourself, which in fact means you will have to hire a Marshall to collect it, at whatever commission they charge.

Posted by: denton at September 10, 2008 7:10 PM in response to Security Deposit

Thanks, Denton. Your clarification makes sense. We're probably the only two still reading this thread. One response to your collection point. I think the tenant, upon winning a judgment, can docket the judgment and it swerves as a lien on the property (which the landlord will want to clear by paying, and will have to clear in order to borrow, refinance or transfer the property). That's pretty good protection. A landlord who obtains a judgment against a tenant who damages the apartment beyond wear and tear while living out the deposit, may find the tenant has no property upon which to place a judgment lien.

I think in the end it is easy for a tenant to spot a problem landlord long before move out (and for a landlord to spot a problem tenant). The case you cite and HCB's case are both exdamples of this. I think it is excessive to counsel living out the deposit in every case. I simply think it is wrong to counsel that tenants in every case should deplete the security and put landlords at the real risk of not being able to be made whole for real damage to their property. With a problem landlord, perhaps all bets are off. But in the absence of any reason to think there will be a problem, I just disagree with your counsel.

Posted by: slopefarm at September 10, 2008 10:31 PM in response to Security Deposit

ebay is amazing. I've had amazing success there.

Posted by: brooklynblondie at September 24, 2008 10:10 PM in response to Lighting Fixtures

this just happened to me, except the main drain was really clogged all the way and started to come up another pipe in the basement (long story), so basically I had to hand-sumppump poop water into buckets (as all drains go to the main drain).
To make a long story short, since you dont have access to your "U" or the "y" on your main drain, you have to try to get to the clog from another place.
For me, it was the outside drain next to the house, running along the west wall, joining with the main drain.
you need a power snake/auger. a really long one.
Of course, I didn't have one, but the super next door did!
problem solved...
good luck!

Posted by: townhouser at October 8, 2008 3:44 PM in response to sewer clog?

but wait, you really dont know it's a sewer clog yet.
where is the toilet, in relation to the washer?
why did this person say it was a sewer clog?

Posted by: townhouser at October 8, 2008 6:19 PM in response to sewer clog?

Try this Company, speak to Gary or Vinny. Tell them Al Rosario of ACR General Contracting, Inc. sent over the recommendation. They are well equipped.

Emergency Mechanical Services
8740 26th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(718) 996-7750

Posted by: alrosariojr at October 8, 2008 8:31 PM in response to sewer clog?

Definitely check all radiators.
Vacuum as much of the sut from inside the cast iron rings as you can.
Check if you have any exposed wood that is not lacquered, especially that custom piece. what is the condition of the hardwood floor? It may need to be sanded and laquered as well.

What is the condition of the walls and ceiling, are any beams exposed?

Posted by: Gosha at October 16, 2008 1:09 PM in response to old house smell?

Do you have oil heat? We just moved into a new (for us) brownstone. I have never had oil heat before and the smell drives me nuts. I am seriously considering converting to gas but haven't yet run all the numbers...perhaps I will poke around elsewhere on this site for that!

Posted by: suto2 at October 19, 2008 6:47 PM in response to old house smell?