Tenant with questions about gut renovation happening in building
I am a tenant who recently renewed a lease in a 4-unit building in East Williamsburg. The rent went up $400, which I protested because the building has been neglected over the years and is in disrepair in a variety of ways. I ended up re-signing anyway, which I now regret, because a month later the landlords have begun gut renovating every unit in the building except for mine. The halls are filled with dust, the building is loud, and the landlords have employed someone to “live” in the apartment below mine for “security”. This person chain-smokes right below my bedroom all night and begins loud construction work at 7:30 every morning. Meanwhile the main hallway and entrance to the building are just trashed. Do I have any recourse? Is it within the landlord’s legal rights to do this kind of work without informing tenants ahead of time? I’ve been reading the tenants bill of rights and this seems to be a gray area, so I was wondering if at least there needs to be a DOB permit posted in one of the main areas. Thanks to anyone who has some information for me on anything I can do, or anything my landlord is required to do.
leonleonleon
in About Brooklyn 10 years ago
11
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11 replies
leonleonleon | 10 years ago
Bushwick Bill… yes, I have considered that. 🙂 Before I renewed I did some shopping around and the prices are, unfortunately, consistent with the neighborhood at this time, so I was either going to have to move and pay that amount or stay where I was and pay that amount. Hindsight is 20/20\.
tressilliana | 10 years ago
The poster is right to be concerned about dust and the lack of DoB permits. As someone that is nearing the end of a major renovation I can confirm that the DoB permits need to be in place, visible from the street level before work commences. If they are gut renovating they would certainly need them. Before renovating we were also required to have lead and asbestos testing done. While we were clear of asbestos the house was full of lead with the old shellac on woodwork and old ceramic fireplace tiles being the primary sources. We decided to move out when work commenced as it’s impossible to avoid the lead becoming airborne and then entering your body – every time your breathe or touch something you are making contact with it. I’d start with checking online for permits and take it from there. Good luck.
bushwickbill | 10 years ago
Have you ever considered that the $400 rent increase was given to you in hopes you wouldn’t re-up your lease so the landlord could renovate the entire building and get increased rents? You basically just gave your landlord the increased rents he or she was seeking without going through the hassle of renovating the apartment. It sounds like you were the only who (was naive enough) to re-sign at that rate with that kind of a hike, and now you get the pleasure of living through a renovation of the rest of the building. Either deal with it or see if the landlord will release you from your lease early (but probably not because you’re carrying the building for him or her during a renovation).
leonleonleon | 10 years ago
Hi All, Thanks for your replies. I’m going to try to communicate with my landlord about it again directly before I start complaining to the city. I noticed miserable1971’s response, and just want to make clear that I definitely did NOT know what I was getting into. I had no idea the building would be vacant, and certainly would not have renewed the lease if I knew what was going to be happening in the rest of the building. That was the whole point of my post… I feel quite misled by my landlords, who did not offer me a choice in the situation or make their plans known to me. At this point, I have emailed three times and will wait for a response for a few more days.
miserable1971 | 10 years ago
How can you not expect noise and dust from a gut renovation
miserable1971 | 10 years ago
All the posters here sound like a bunch of conivivig, shiesty bums. This woman knew exactly what she’d be getting into when she agreed to remain in a vacant building. She is obviously holding out for a payday, reduced rent in the remodeled unit or trying to take over this landlord’s building altogether. I hope she becomes a landlord and experiences the worst tenant in Brooklyn. What a loser
thetinkerswagon | 10 years ago
do not call any agencies without first talking to him. if they come out and begin to enforce all sorts of laws and regulations on him before you ask for a reduction or to be let out of the lease, I doubt he will entertain your requests. go to him first. I would suggest moving as it sounds like you will not enjoy staying there. if he does not let you out, then begin mentioning the errors of his ways.
daveinbedstuy | 10 years ago
Sounds like no permits, Check the NYC BIS website and then do what bedstuyreno said. But, the other options may be attractive to. If you think you overpaid, sound slike he’ll let you out. make sure about getting the security deposit. :andlord sounds like a 7 or so on the scumbag scale.
Rick | 10 years ago
If the building is in as bad of shape as you say it is, it probably needs a serious renovation. The landlord should have told you his plans before you signed a new lease. I would talk to him and work something out. I think you should get some kind of compensation. Maybe a rent deduction, void the new lease and or move.
landlord | 10 years ago
If you regret signing the new lease, I’m sure the landlord will let you out of the lease early. Seems like he wants to renovate all the apartments and will do your apt once you leave. Since your the only one there during the construction, I’m sure he would rather have you leave.
bedstuyreno | 10 years ago
As a tenant you have a great deal of recourse. First call 311 and report the dust as an environmental hazard. Next report unsafe work conditions to the DOB- sounds like they is a good chance they don’t have permits. Then send your landlord a letter that the apartment is unsafe due to dust. If he ignores the letter, then report that as well. Then I would look for a new place and sue for damages.