Landlord selling -- Legally, how often can realtor show my apartment?

Also, if you’re really freaked out, just show up and pretend to be a potential buyer for the first showing and if you are quiet, you can probably hang around a while and see if what’s happening is really as bad as it seems.

anotherposter

in About Brooklyn 10 years and 4 months ago

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brooklyndslr | 10 years and 4 months ago

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Thank you in advance. I just moved in and found out last week that the landlord is selling the building (4 units). My sublease is up at the end of September. **What rights do I have?** I know I can stay until the end of September or accept a buy-out to leave early. **But what about open houses?** The realtor just contacted us saying he wants to do open houses every Sunday for 1.5 hours and another random night per week for 1.5 hours. The landlord has offered my room-mate and me $50 a piece for the inconvenience. While this might seem like a nice gesture, this is all unacceptable. I have thousands in camera equipment and sensitive client information and can’t have strangers going through my room 3+ hours per week, especially during times I am not in the apartment. There is no way it is legal for a seller to start open houses more than 6 months from the end of my lease. I don’t have the original lease since I am subletting and the sublease didn’t include anything of the sort. **Does anyone know what the law is in this scenario?** THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP YOU GIVE ME!!!

slopefarm | 10 years and 4 months ago

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First, you need to get a hold of the lease. “The Law” starts with what is in the contract. The lease should have a term related to access to the apartment. There may then be case law (court decisions) interpreting that clause. Chances are, you can’t really keep the landlord from showing the apartment in a reasonable way as part of an effort to sell the house. And chances are, you would have a hard time convincing anyone that the landlord is being unreasonable. It does not matter how many months are left on the lease — landlord is not showing it to prospective tenants but prospective homeowners. Buyers need to be able to see the house — its layout, condition, value, etc. A suggestion — see if landlord will show it at open house minus one room, in which you lock up all of the valuables and client stuff. Then, anyone who is truly interested (perhaps only after bidding) but no crowd, could come back and see it including the room. Also, in this market, you probably are not looking at that many open houses. Homes are selling.

curiositykilledthecat | 10 years and 4 months ago

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Ditto slopefarm’s points. Your lease will very likely include a provision for the owner to reasonably show the property for sale. And the owner can market and even sell the building before the end of your lease. The new owner will simply adopt you as a current tenant, and it will be up to you and the new owner to negotiate your renewal (or not). Good luck.

boredatwork | 10 years and 4 months ago

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I assume that you are in a legal sublet. If so you have the same rights as the original tenant. Here is the pertinent phrase from the standard Blumberg rental lease: **10\. Landlord may enter Landlord may at reasonable times, enter the Apartment to examine, to make repairs or alterations, and to show it to possible buyers, lenders or tenants.** As @slopefarm mentions, the owner’s schedule would be considered reasonable to most. He is not asking for access everyday, or access at 7:00 am on Sunday, for example. If you are not a legal subtenant, I would be happy you are not facing eviction.

resident2 | 10 years and 4 months ago

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I have sold many tenant occupied properties over the years. I would never let any broker just run an “OPEN HOUSE” of UN-identified people off the street through any of my tenants apartments. They must make appointments and be escorted through the tenants portions of the property. Serious buyers would expect and respect this. It is one thing for an owner that benefits from the sale to have the intrusion. But a tenant deserves a bit of respect if the the broker & owner expect co-operation. Yes, as per any lease in NYC the owner has a right to show the property for sale or otherwise, by appointment. But the tenant also has a right to quiet, & safe enjoyment of their apartments. Insist on all showings of your apartment be conducted by escorted appointments.

brooklyndslr | 10 years and 4 months ago

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Thank you all so much for your help in this. I truly appreciate it. @resident2, you could not be more on point. I will make sure the showings are by appointment and escorted. **Update:** I was able to make some good progress. 1) I was able to get a copy of the original lease, which simply states “Tenant agrees to allow the Landlord reasonable access to the residence for inspection and repair. Landlord agrees to enter the residence only after notifying the Tenant in advance, except in an emergency.” 2) The realtor has agreed to let me keep my door locked for all showings since the layout is the same as the floor below. Will have to go buy a lock, but great news nevertheless! Looks like problem solved. Now I won’t get my equipment nicked. Thank you again for your help everyone!!