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07.02.08, 12:29 PM New York City
23 replies
Rent question: We have rented our apt. for 10 years. We never had a lease after the first year and rent increases would only occur around our original lease date. This past year our landlord raised a lot mid-year stating the rent is too low (someone told her she could be getting a lot more than she does). DH and I were thinking to ask her for a new lease to avoid future random increases like this but I worry she will just say 'no' and keep raising the rent until we can't afford it anymore. (We really just want to buy an apt. so the idea of having a lease is actually not so great a solution for us either.) WWYD? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
New York City 07.02.08, 12:29 PM Flag
 

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get a lease. are you going to want to buy within the next 12 months? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:32 PM Flag
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We have wanted to buy for many years but it's just always out of reach for us (and we are too picky for our own good)! How easy is it to get out of a lease? We would give 60 or 90 days notice and have that as a lease term? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:36 PM Flag
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i am not sure you can do one that short under NY law. you mgith want to cal Legal Aid adn ask to talk to a tenant's lawyer [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:37 PM Flag
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thanks [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:39 PM Flag
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were you paying well under market value? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:34 PM Flag
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yes. having been here for so long we are paying less than what newcomers to the area pay. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:38 PM Flag
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In my area, I'm pretty sure once you go month-to-month, they can only increase rent once a year. I would put that in writing with her, instead of signing a lease. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:40 PM Flag
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When you say put it in writing do you mean in the form of a letter to her stating our expectations or do you mean ask her to sign off on it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:42 PM Flag
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I'm not sure. call legal aid first, if they can't help you at all. I would at least talk to landlord and say that in future rent increases should only be once a year. It's in her best interest to keep long term tenets as happy as possible. But this isn't going to keep her from raising the rent, that's her right [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:46 PM Flag
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OP: Thanks. I am just afraid talking to her will tip her off that we do have a breaking point and she will keep on with the increases as I assume that too is her right since we don't have a lease. Would love to have a heart to heart, without showing her our limitations, but that seems hard to do. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:50 PM Flag
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I don't think that it is unreasonable on your part to request that all rent increases be valid for a year. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:58 PM Flag
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Even a lease wont protect you from rent increases [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:40 PM Flag
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How so? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:42 PM Flag
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it will protect her from mid-year ones. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:43 PM Flag
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OP: yes, it's the random, mid-year increases I want to protect myself from. Are you saying a lease won't protect me from that? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:47 PM Flag
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it will protect you from that. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:54 PM Flag
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did she give you a lease for the new rent. how does she enforce it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:48 PM Flag
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in the past she would just tell us. Then we started to ask for it in writing (letter form). She hasn't had to enforce it....we just honor it since up until now we seemed to all agree to the same (lease-less) rules. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:53 PM Flag
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you are basically month-to-month in your rental. The rent did not occur "mid-year." If you want to be protected from periodic, unexpected increases, you need to be willing to sign a year or two-year lease. Your landlord has the right to say no to your request for a lease, though. But I would think she would want one for her own protection. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:49 PM Flag
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^^^ sorry, the rent increase did not occur "mid-year" [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:50 PM Flag
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and how do you break a lease? Say we find a place to buy in 6 months, is there a way to break a lease in a civil way?? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:54 PM Flag
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it's usually spelled out in the lease terms. For me, I have to keep paying until someone else moves in, which they can take advantage of and decide that this is the perfect time to do a bunch of work on it while they're still getting paid. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:58 PM Flag
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Right. I see what you are saying. Damn. I just want to own! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 07.02.08, 12:59 PM Flag
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