Rent stabilization for Converted Property from 6 to 3 family

The property I recently purchased was legally converted from 6 family to 3 family about 15 years ago. One apartment was rent stabilized and the tenant was grandfathered in. The other tenant (moved in 6 months ago) filed a complaint with the NY DHCR to claim rent stabilization. I am fighting this claim with the help of an attorney. 1\. How can I stop future tenants from filing these frivolous complaints? 2\. I am about to move into the owner’s duplex to use that as my primary residence. Am I entitled to any additional rights to kick out the existing tenants in the future? Thank you for any help/advice you can provide.

chowfun

in Landlord 11 years and 3 months ago

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housepoor | 11 years and 2 months ago

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I bought a 4 unit building that had been stabilized by virtue of the prior owner having a tax abatement (this was a while ago…not sure it still happens now for small buildings). HPD (I think it was them) told me, in writing, that once the tax abatement expired, any new tenants in the apartments would not be rent stabilized. As it turned out, there had been 100% turnover since the abatement expired, so there was no stabilization. This implies for the OP that while tenants who lived in the building when it was subject to RS remain entitled to stabilized leases for as long as they live there, new tenants will not.

resident2 | 11 years and 3 months ago

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Just downsizing the number of units does not automatically de-stabilize the whole building. All of the units have to be completely reconfigured and not identifiable as the previous apartments. A new certificate of occupancy issued for all the new units and the building de-registered from DHCR. IE: If you bought a 4 sty building that was previously 2 apartments on each of the lower two floors and a floor through apartment on each of the upper two floors. (6 apartments total) and someone at some time in the past, got the lower two floors vacant and filed an amendment change to the C of O for the new garden duplex apartment that was created, but with no significant changes to the other two units. The two upper floor through apartments not being substantially changed, they remain rent stabilized. Technically.

majorhints | 11 years and 3 months ago

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And people why owners try to get RS units destabilized asap, ruins it for the good tenants/LLs. The lawsuit against the recent changes at the DHCR were ridiculous and it will be interesting see how that plays out. Give the tenant notice to vacate (assuming 30 day notice is in your lease) then get a lawyer and boot the tenant for owner occupancy if necessary. The DHCR review will take months to resolve.

mozeeatupu | 11 years and 3 months ago

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You cannot prevent past tenants from filing rent complaints. Now thanks to new DHCR amendments, complaints can date back to the life of the rental unit. You can claim owner’s use for units with the usual caveats.