Dead landlord

My landlord died a year ago. His çompanion is in charge of his estate and she is refusing to renew tenants leases. She is also refusing to meet with tenants to discuss the status of the building. My building is an SRO and it is rent stabilized. I don’t feel comfortable living in a building without a lease and a dead landlord. What should me and the other tenants do? Thanks.

smithmia

in Other 9 years and 7 months ago

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dorkofwindsor | 9 years and 7 months ago

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i think the question here is to set up and pay into an escrow or keep sending in your check made out as usual to whom it says on the original lease. The only issue i would have in making regular payments as usual is that they can deny they ever received it / not cash it. So personally, what i would do is: Send rent checks as usual by certified mail with receipt. If that is returned / refused, then set up an escrow account and religiously pay into that monthly, and send a certified letter stating this is what has transpired. Save and and all documents /correspondence if any are returned / refused. I am not an attorney, this is just what i would do if it were me. I would think this is pretty watertight but of course i would seek the free advice as others have kindly suggested. Best of luck,

smeyer418 | 9 years and 7 months ago

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If you are a rent stabilized tenant a lease is not necessarily required(although to get an increase a renewal must be sent to you). You are a statutory tenant and your rights are regulated by law. continue paying your rent by check or use money order keep copies if by cash get receipts. If there becomes a problem with services file complaints. Heat and hot water complaints thru 311. DHCR has a tenant protection unit. http://www.nyshcr.org/Rent/TenantProtectionUnit/

brokelin | 9 years and 7 months ago

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I don’t know the rules specific to SROs, but for rent stabilization in general, it doesn’t matter if the landlord sends you a new lease when a lease expires – once you are in a rent stabilized place, you are a tenant until you aren’t for a legitimate reason (such as landlord claiming occupancy) as long as you keep paying your rent. So, if you are living there, why not protect yourself and your rights by paying your rent? I like the idea suggested above about paying the old landlord, with proof, until you have notice to pay a new one. Also the idea to get advice from Met Council.

no-permits | 9 years and 7 months ago

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@miserable1971, lol i agree.

no-permits | 9 years and 7 months ago

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i would continue sending the checks to the deceased owner proof of mail. do not write checks to anyone else unless they show you a deed that you can verify. years ago, before becoming a landlord, i lived in a stabilized apartment and the owner also passed away. once the estate was sorted out, about a year later, i was given notice to pay a different family member. the family appreciated it and it seemed that they held a grudge against those who were opportunistic during their difficult time. some were evicted.

miserable1971 | 9 years and 7 months ago

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If she doesn’t wish to renew your lease you can move out and let the new landlord be. Ever since Deblasio’s took office these tenant hustlers have been crawling out the woodwork.

tm07 | 9 years and 7 months ago

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Google Metropolitan Council on Housing. They have a tenant hotline. The hours are on the site. Call them and follow their advice.

resident2 | 9 years and 7 months ago

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This is probably because she does not know what the situation is herself. If there is no will, it can take the Surrogates Court a while to determine who is managing the building etc. Just save your rent, organize the other tenants to save their rent, do not go blowing it. As heat bills, con ed bills etc need to get paid, pay them, keep records. The big mistake tenants make in this situation is to not save their rent, it is not extra money to go spend on a night out. Eventually someone will serve you all with papers regarding the ownership, the management etc. And if you do not have the rent & or records of payments for heat, hot water etc, then you will have a problem. If you are an SRO you do not need leases, if you are rent stabilized you are still protected even without a lease. Go to the DHCR office on Hanson Pl and ask what the registrations are for your building. If it turns out you are not rent stabilized, then you are not entitled to lease renewals and start saving your money to move.

daveinbedstuy | 9 years and 7 months ago

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Continue to pay your rent or put it in escrow. I don’t know the exact logistics for the latter. Call NYCHA and HPD and ask them what the best strategy is to pursue. This person clearly has no clue what the laws are regarding an SRO.

dorkofwindsor | 9 years and 7 months ago

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http://brownstoner.staging.wpengine.com/blog/2015/08/landlord-died-dont-do-what-this-couple-did/