Dramatic increase in rent - how much notice is required?

From what I understand, the terms will continue to be month-to-month, so accepting the increase does not lock you into a long term comitment to the higher rent. If you want to leave Sept. 30 you can.  Paying the increase for one month to buy the time to find something better and cheaper may be worth it.

shahnandersen

in Brownstoner 13 years and 9 months ago

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anonymous | 13 years and 9 months ago

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I live in a one bedroom apartment brownstone apartment with my boyfriend. We received an email from our landlord this Tuesday saying that she plans to increase our rent $325/month starting on September 1st and that we need to let her know by Monday whether we intend to stay.  We are currently month to month tenants because she would not renew our lease after the first year.  When we rented the apartment 2 years ago our rent was $2,000/month.  Last year she raised the rent by $75.  If we accept this current increase, we’ll be up to $2,400/month.

From what I understand, there aren’t any limits to the amount that a landlord can raise the rent on a non-stabilized apartment.  Are there any regulations regarding the amount of notice that should be given before a rent increase?  We’ve had less than a week to decide whether we can afford the $325 hike.

bowl-of-dicks | 13 years and 9 months ago

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The apartment is month to month and non-regulated so she can do whatever she wants….. as can you….given it is not within 30 days. She gave you till Monday which is (not so) ironically August 1st.

BlueHills | 13 years and 9 months ago

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One month’s notice is required, and she gave you one month plus one week.  That is the risk of month to month.  It would definitely have been more decent of her if she had given you at least a month to decide — e.g., if she had told you on July 1 that an increase would go into effect on September 1, and you could let her know your decision on August 1\.  That would have been the decent thing to do, but it is not required.

bowl-of-dicks | 13 years and 9 months ago

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Not trying to pass judgment, however my gut tells me that she probably just wants you out, but will tolerate you at the price of $2400 per month. ($2400 a awfully steep for a 1br in Ft. Greene) Have you asked her for an explanation as to why the large increase? Have you asked her if negotiation is possible? If you really want to stay, try those tactics. If she will not budge, move on.

queenoftheclick | 13 years and 9 months ago

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Yes, I agree she wants you out and she’s trying to make it uncomfortable so you will leave. She can do what she wants in terms of rent because you are month to month. Look on the bright side, you also have the ability to leave with little notice.

brooklynheightsivyiii | 13 years and 9 months ago

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For a month to month rental, there is no recourse for you other than to pay the increase. I am inclined to agree with the others who think this is an effort to push you out.   The Real Property Law does not really have hard and fast rules regarding price-increase timelines for market rate apartments so the landlord doesn’t(technically) have to give you more notice than he/she already has.  Best of luck…
Regarding Rent Jacking:
Real Property Law ?? 235-e:
If the apartment is NOT rent-stabalized:
A landlord may increase the rent because of hardship or increased labor costs. For rent controlled apartments in New York City, the rent may also be adjusted according to changes in the prices of various types of heating fuels.

Tenants who are senior citizens (62 years or older) or who are disabled may be granted certain exemptions from rent increases. Tenants may determine whether they qualify for a Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) or a Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) by calling the DHCR???s Rent InfoLine at (718) 739-6400\. Landlords must provide tenants with a written receipt when rent is paid in cash, a money order, a cashier???s check or in any form other than the personal check of a tenant. Where a tenant pays the rent by personal check, the tenant may request in writing a rent receipt from the landlord. The receipt must state the payment date, the amount, the period for which the rent was paid, and the apartment number. The receipt must be signed by the person receiving the payment and state his or her title.