Short-Term/Month-to-Month Advice
Hi All — My wife is pregnant and due in mid-June. Our current rental lease expires at the end of May and and we just purchased a new condo in Park Slope. Unfortunately, the building we bought into is still under renovation (90% complete) and there is no move-in date in immediate sight until the…
Hi All —
My wife is pregnant and due in mid-June. Our current rental lease expires at the end of May and and we just purchased a new condo in Park Slope. Unfortunately, the building we bought into is still under renovation (90% complete) and there is no move-in date in immediate sight until the developer obtains a temporary Certificate of Occupancy. This could very well happen by May 1st (the earliest date in our purchase agreement) or many months thereafter depending on delays. Thus, my wife and I have to move and we are going to break our lease one month early in order to give ourselves several weeks time before the baby arrives. The main issue is that we are reticent to sign a one year lease since we might be able to move into our condo after just a few months — although we think May 1st is unrealistic, we don’t believe it will take longer than 6 months max. That said, who really knows?!!
At any rate, we are looking for a month-to-month 2BR rental ($2500+) in Brooklyn, preferably in Park Slope, if such a thing exists. Extending our current lease is not an option. Needless to say, we are concerned and anxious! Is it reasonable to assume that we might be able to negotiate a month-to-month lease (for a premium above the asking price of a normal 1 yr. lease) if we: A) guarantee the landlord at least 4 months by paying in full at move-in; B) ask in return that the landlord consent in writing that we be allowed to continue occupancy on a month-to-month basis beyond the 4 months time if need be (with another price bump negotiated in advance)? We are trying to be flexible, creative, careful, and realistic, but this is new ground for us and we are uneasy, especially with a little one on the way. In short, we don’t want to sign a one year lease, then break it prematurely and screw the landlord in the process, so we’re looking for a viable alternative that might be mutually beneficial. If you have any ideas, please advise.
I would stay where you are. Moving is really stressful around your due date. Most landlords refuse to give month to month or short term leases anyway. If you must move I’d do it even before your lease is up if possible because the closer to the due date the more hassles it all will be. I bet your current landlord would let you out of your lease earler as long as he/she gets a tenant they like. I would look on craigslist for apts and also register will all of the real estate agencies on 7th Ave. Also I’d offer to rent for an entire year and then get the landlord’s permission to either sublet or to transfer the lease to another qualified tenant. That way the landlord would know they are covered for the entire year. Also I’d offer the landlord something extra for the wear and tear of moving in and out so frequently. They may have to do some painting touch up or whatnot because of your move.
If you use a bedside cosleeper instead of a crib for the first 6 months (great if you plan to breast feed) you don’t need a seperate room. Hold off buying all the baby furniture until later. You really don’t need all the “stuff” right away.
Anonymous at February 20, 2006 10:52 AM – “newborns sleep all the time” – you’re a very lucky man. Hopefully the poster will join your ranks. If not, he’d better be prepared for some nightly uptime.
i know you think your current apt. isn’t appropriate for a baby but remember newborns sleep ALL the time. they don’t even begin to start thinking of crawling until six months. our kid slept in a very large walk in closet for the first 8 months of his life and didn’t seem to suffer one bit. i’m just saying, you may want to rethink!
I’m renting month-to-month too and would gladly take you on were it not that I currently have tenants. We have a baby and a 5yr old and moved twice: one month before and one month after delivery of our youngest. You will probably find that in most Park Slope brownstone rentals (i.e. renting a whole 1000 sqft floor in a owner-occupied house) landlords are more concerned about finding nice, sociable and decent people than anything else.
hi- we actually prefer to rent month to month — that way, if we have problems with tenants — such as if they don’t pay, pay late, etc. — it is simply easier to get them out. Obviously though, if the owner knows you may only stay 4 months, they will be concerned as they’d have to go through the whole process again of finding another tenant in such a short period. Perhaps you might offer them an extra months rent if you move out before a certain amount of time is up. I agree with one poster though, I’d certainly try and stay where I was…you can keep a small baby easily in a one bedroom apt. for a couple months…much less hassle i’d say then moving twice..
A landlord might offer you month to month if you offered him a substantive rental premium. By the way, you are right to be skeptical about the move in date. If the developer hasn’t obtained a C of O yet, you might be in this same situation a year from now.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and warm wishes. Unfortunately, our current apartment is not suitable for a baby — staying there for a few extra months is just not an option. Also, we will only be moving once during the pregnancy, not twice. Then, at some point down the line, we’ll have to move again but at least it will be after the baby’s arrival and into a home we own.
If your current lease expires in May, what are your chances of staying where you are, and not signing a new lease. By default your old lease would become a month to month rental. I can’t imagine moving twice while pregnant. In the three places I have rented in the slope, my landlords never bothered to have me resign another lease. I gave them one months notice and hired professional cleaners to do my apartment so the landlord was able to rent it before i left. I didn’t lose my security deposit either MY LAST PLACE I WAS THERE FOR 5 YEARS WITHOUT A NEW LEASE. Anyway, congratulation! BUGABOOS RULE!