Brooklynian » Topic: Millennium Real Estate

Brooklynian » Topic: Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate en-US Fri, 24 May 2013 02:32:53 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://brooklynian.com/forum/search.php Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765910 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:10:55 +0000 whynot_31 765910@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ An article that says what we said, in a different way: <a href="http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2013/03/19/how_to_find_a_tenants_rights_lawyer.php#more" rel="nofollow">http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2013/03/19/how_to_find_a_tenants_rights_lawyer.php#more</a> Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765695 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:47:03 +0000 The Invisible Lines 765695@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Thanks all for the advice (and yes, there are more than 6 units -- there are actually 12, all studio-style). I appreciate the help and insight and will definitely pass this along to others in the building. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765693 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:37:06 +0000 whynot_31 765693@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ I believe that they are still forced to do pro bono work, and am of the opinion that the requirement is certainly good for the student. ...Sadly, I have had enough situations where the student lawyers are so poorly supervised and informed that they are not a benefit to the client. As a result, I advise people to get assistance from people who are paid, and regualry provide such advice and get training on such topics as a result of their full time position. ....there is enough need in NYC that the law students can learn on someone else. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765690 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:26:07 +0000 prodigalson 765690@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ When I was in law school students were forced to do pro bono work as part of the curriculum. That was ages ago but it's likely to still be the situation today. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765671 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:04:41 +0000 whynot_31 765671@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ In my experience well-intentioned, bleeding-heart, pro-bono law students and "activists" often do more harm than good. I'd avoid them. If, after contacting HCR and doing some other research, you believe that you have case, go to the pros: <a href="http://www.ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds/housing-issues" rel="nofollow">http://www.ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds/housing-issues</a> <a href="http://www.ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/publications/Tenant_Rights_2011.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/publications/Tenant_Rights_2011.pdf</a> If you have questions, the Pratt Area Community Council will be more than happy to help you as well. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765670 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:57:52 +0000 eastbloc 765670@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ I agree with bkrest. This is a case of throwing crap at the wall to see what sticks. Push back and they'll likely fold fast. There's probably a line of bleeding-heart law students tripping over themselves to help you pro bono if you know where to look. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765667 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:40:39 +0000 bkrest 765667@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Though they may seem to have the upper hand. Never concede your rights so quickly. I am fighting a similar fight. Landlord lawyers I have encountered have not been so bright, but they are good at taking advantage of those who are unaware of their rights. A lease in a binding contract and you have the right to pay the rent agreed to until November. Second, if they thought they were rent stabilized, they likely are. This can be confirmed by requesting a full rent history for your apartment from the DHCR office on Hanson Place. If they take you to court, so be it, you have your lease and do the research by using the links that whynot supplied. I doubt that they would do that anyway ( sounds like a baseless threat ) you can only go to court for non-payment of rent of for staying after your lease has expired. You have more time to do your research because your lease ends in November. Don't concede your rights so quickly! It's becoming increasingly harder to find an affordable rent stabilized apartment in this city and the landlords are getting away with a lot because they are not being challenged. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765665 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:46:17 +0000 whynot_31 765665@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Tate- That is often true, but not always. <a href="http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/faq/rentstab.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/faq/rentstab.html</a> <a href="http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/faq/decontrol.html#undergo" rel="nofollow">http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/faq/decontrol.html#undergo</a> <a href="http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/faq/421a-J51.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/faq/421a-J51.html</a> <a href="http://www.nyshcr.org/Rent/FactSheets/orafac1.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.nyshcr.org/Rent/FactSheets/orafac1.htm</a> Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765664 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:39:29 +0000 tateinbk 765664@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Cool the Kid, It was my understanding that all buildings of more than 5 units, below $2,500/mo that were built before a certain date (1970s?) are rent stabilized. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765653 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:03:28 +0000 whynot_31 765653@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ I actually know a worker at the HCR Rent Info Line, 718-739-6400 If you PM me, I'll give you her name. She could resolve most of these questions. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765651 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:59:14 +0000 Cool The Kid 765651@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ <blockquote><cite>tsarina <a href="http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765648">said</a>:</cite> If your building is 6 units or more than you are rent stabilized- if its in the lease or not. There are a million rules that give you rights. Look into it. </blockquote> All apts under the rent threshold and in buildings with more than 6 units are rent controlled? This is news to me (no snark!). Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765649 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:53:39 +0000 ehgee 765649@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ <a href="http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/s/590ph6" rel="nofollow">http://nycma.lunaimaging.com/luna/servlet/s/590ph6</a> Here is a photo of the building in the 80s. It appears a first-floor window may be broken, so perhaps the building was abandoned then. <a href="http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/PropertyProfileOverviewServlet?boro=3&houseno=677&street=classon+avenue&go2=+GO+&requestid=0" rel="nofollow">http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/PropertyProfileOverviewServlet?boro=3&houseno=677&street=classon+avenue&go2=+GO+&requestid=0</a> The certificate of occupancy is from 1989. My building was bricked in when it had its old tax photo, and now has a "J-51" note on the rent stabilization list, which I believe means the landlords took a tax break in exchange for making the units stabilized again. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765648 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:42:30 +0000 tsarina 765648@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ If your building is 6 units or more than you are rent stabilized- if its in the lease or not. There are a million rules that give you rights. Look into it. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765647 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:41:46 +0000 ehgee 765647@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ That sounds very shady. Not being a lawyer, breaking a lease mid-year without any consideration (compensation) does sound illegal. It does appear your building is not on the rent-stabilized buildings list, despite being old: <a href="http://www.housingnyc.com/downloads/resources/sta_bldngs/2011BrooklynBldgs.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.housingnyc.com/downloads/resources/sta_bldngs/2011BrooklynBldgs.pdf</a> Are there less than 6 apartments? Online listings show the building as being built in 1990; perhaps it was abandoned & then refurbished enough to count as a new building? <a href="http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/Property/148698/677-Classon-Ave-Brooklyn-NY-11238/" rel="nofollow">http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/Property/148698/677-Classon-Ave-Brooklyn-NY-11238/</a> Perhaps your landlords recently discovered that their building, despite being old enough that they would expect rent stabilization to apply, wasn't actually stabilized, and are attempting to break their leases early? Unless there is a clause in your lease allowing your landlord to break it early, what you landlord is doing is illegal. If you have a standard rent-stabilized lease, I am pretty sure there is no such clause. Be sure to document all interactions-- even if you don't have time to fight this now, you might well have a case against your landlord for arbitrarily breaking your lease before its expiration. If you are still in the apartment, I would submit the rent as specified in the lease, and if checks are not accepted, keep the money in escrow. Don't sign a new lease-- since you have a valid lease, you can't be evicted. Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765646 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:17:12 +0000 whynot_31 765646@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ I realize that you have chosen not to fight. However, if you have neighbors who are interested in learning about their rights, and/or seeing whether the landlords are doing anything illegal, they could contact HCR's Rent Infoline or the tenant organizers at the Pratt Area Community Council. Here are links: <a href="http://www.nyshcr.org/AboutUs/contact.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.nyshcr.org/AboutUs/contact.htm</a> <a href="http://pacc.publishpath.com/community--tenant-organizing" rel="nofollow">http://pacc.publishpath.com/community--tenant-organizing</a> Do you have any idea/guess what portion of your neighbors will choose (i.e. "be forced") to leave as a result of this new policy? Millennium Real Estate http://brooklynian.com/forum/crown-heights-and-prospect-lefferts-gardens/millennium-real-estate#post-765645 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:05:02 +0000 The Invisible Lines 765645@http://brooklynian.com/forum/ Hi All, Just a friendly public announcement about Millennium Real Estate/Supreme Management, who own several buildings in Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Park Slope. Be warned. I signed a lease with them in November, 2011 for a studio at 677 Classon btw St. Marks and Bergen. I have been there ever since. The lease, which was at the time rent-stabilized, was for $1000 per month. It did go up to $1035 eventually, as to be expected as per NYC law; however, in the last two weeks of February I, and all tenants in the building, received *new* leases saying that our current lease would expire on March 1st (again, I sign my leases in November). My rent increased by 15.4% ($200 dollars), and I was asked for a new security deposit of $2,390 (along with a meet-the-balance fee of $320). So in order to not have eviction papers filed in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, I would not only have to pay over $2,700, I would also have to agree to a 15.4% rent increase. It's not just me. I asked everyone I know in the building, and they got the same notice. I've spoken with them on the phone and they said the building was not rent-stabilized, since of course that clause was taken out of the new lease! Unfortunately because of the timeframe given, I don't have the time, energy, or finances to properly fight this. And even if I did, I would not want to live in a building overseen by such a "business." The funny thing is that they've always been so nice with me over the phone. I've always paid my rent, and I've never had any complaints against me. When speaking with the person I normally talk to there, I was told, audaciously, "We could have raised it by $500 if we felt like it." Wowzers. So, I'm just putting this out there as a warning. It's really unfortunately because I've always felt like they were the best landlords I've ever had. Until this came out of nowhere and they treated us all like we were squatting in a meth den. This is an obvious move to force out long-time tenants so they can rent for higher in the up-and-coming Crown Heights. It's just sad to see loyal leasers treated like this. It's inhumane (I know there's one woman in the building with an infant, for fucksake), and stinks of illegality. So, that's my two cents.