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Tenant Advocacy/Lease Questions — Brooklynian

Tenant Advocacy/Lease Questions

voodoonyc
voodoonyc
edited November -1 in The Lounge / Random Stuff
All of the tenants (except one) in my building were served with a 30 day notice yesterday terminating the terms our tenancy (we all have month-to-month leases - no one in the building has an actual lease currently in effect). :( I've been in the apartment for over 12 years, all of the other tenants have been there longer than me. Just trying to figure out if I should just bite the bullet and move or at the very least try to get an extension on the 30 days. The other facts:

1. Landlord is elderly and her children are pushing for a sale of the building. They have been trying to sell it unsuccessfully for over year. They have a lawyer and I have his contact information. We were assured that eviction wouldn't happen by landlord (for whatever that's worth, which is not much, but we all had a good relationship with her.)
2. There are only 5 units in the building so my apartment does not seem to be subject to any rent stabilization laws.
3. The tenant in the apartment above me: her mother was _born_ in the building and she and/or her family have occupied the apartment since 1921 - she was not served with anything as she is pretty clearly rent controlled. So they are evicting everyone else and hoping that she will just leave? I have told her she definitely needs to speak to a lawyer.

So really just curious if anyone has any experience that would be helpful (landlord, you out there?) - my moving is inevitable at this point I think, although I really like my apartment, but I really think I need more than 30 days. If nothing else, I will probably approach the family lawyer for an extension. Thanks all.
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Comments

  • mougar
    mougar
    Wow, that's terrible. I don't have any advice, but I'm sorry. That just sucks.
  • scarlett
    scarlett
    Oh no Voodoo. That blows. COMPLETELY BLOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!

    And also it sounds pretty ridic to get everyone out when the building is not in contract for sale. They want it to just sit empty? Eesh.
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    ditto, sucks.

    An empty building is sometimes worth more than a full one ...but only if you are going to renovate it and/or it has a rent controlled tenants.
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    Wow! So sorry--you must be stressed!

    No idea what your rights are, but maybe if you all get together and ask (not demand or attack) for an extension together, you'll have better luck getting it. And ask for something specific (say an extra 4 or 6 weeks) no some vague amount of time, explaining that you have lived there a very long time and were not expecting to have to look for a place but understand you must, but more time is necessary.

    Good luck and keep us posted!
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    Maybe they are hoping for better luck selling an empty building--I'm guessing a buyer doesn't want to deal with the hassle of kicking long-term tenants out.
  • stock009
    stock009
    That really, really sucks.

    Go to tenant.net and ask the questions you have.

    I do know that it will take them much longer than 30 days to get you out of there if it comes to a standoff. I checked on this when I had a bad situation and was told it can take many months or over a year for a landlord to push for an eviction and actually make it happen.

    Yes, sadly, I think you'll have to look for a new place...but don't bust your ass doing it within 30 days
  • MOD
    MOD
    Scarlett! We need you superior apartment finding skillz here!~

    Voodoo and I already have talked. I don't know what he should do, but if he does have to move, it would be ideal to find him a really nice place. He's a good person and deserves to have a good home. :(

    We are here for you! :love:
  • scarlett
    scarlett
    First of all, I will TOTALLY help look for a place (I just called to see that place I told you about, Mamacita-- got brokers' voicemails)!!!!! Second of all, we need to have deck parties every day until then!!!!!!!!!!! With pretty cocks and Eton!!!!!!!!!!!
  • voodoonyc
    voodoonyc
    Thanks everyone! Yeah, I already figured that they are trying to empty the building in order to get it to sell. It's not in very good shape, so it would most likely be appealing only as a gut renovation. Not sure what they will do with the rent controlled tenant. I have spent some time over the past couple days at tenant.net and it's really helpful. Anyway, really not looking forward to moving. As those who have been to my apartment know, I have way too much crap.
  • bohuma
    bohuma
    You could try this lawyer http://manhattanfirm.com/index.htm, he specializes in representing tenants and seems to be well regarded. I suspect that you don't have many options given that you were on a month to month rental.
  • brooklynbound
    brooklynbound
    So sorry to hear that VooDoo. Your place is so awesome!! If you need any help packing or cleaning, let me know.
  • scarlett
    scarlett
    Can I come and lounge on the deck while you two pack and clean?
  • delabklyn
    delabklyn
    me too! doctor just said at least 2 more months of this crutches crap so i've got nothing else to do for a long time.....do you have ketchup? :lol:
  • meredithb
    meredithb

    Subject: Re: Tenant Advocacy/Lease Questions

    VoodooNYC wrote: So really just curious if anyone has any experience that would be helpful (landlord, you out there?) - my moving is inevitable at this point I think, although I really like my apartment, but I really think I need more than 30 days.
    From what I believe, you will have until the end of June ( a bit more than 30 days), and if you have not left then the landlord can start eviction proceedings which will give you some time. You have to be served papers, go to court, etc. All of this will take a while. So don't freak on the 30 days. But definitely start looking for a new place ASAP.
  • nomad
    nomad
    Sad to hear Voodoo. You do have a fantastic place, so it's a bummer to have to move....
  • brooklynjack
    brooklynjack
    Yep, sucks the big one.

    Sounds like you are resigned to leaving so your best bet is to play nice and ask pretty please for some extra time. Make it definitive, not open ended.

    If you want to fight it, like Flexi says, try tenant.net you might also contact DHCR to see if you are in fact rent regulated

    good luck!
  • voodoonyc
    voodoonyc
    Thanks nomad. You're welcome to come over, lounge on the deck and watch me pack with BrooklynBound, Scarlett, Flexi, Mama, Beaver, Carmen and OpossumQueen...
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    ahem! ...no men invited?

    Mougar, Carnie and Whynot
  • scarlett
    scarlett
    Why would he want men when he needs to live out the best of bachelorhood with hotties is bikinis on his deck?
  • brooklynjack
    brooklynjack
    It is hard to refute Ms Scarlett's logic
  • scarlett
    scarlett
    BrooklynJack wrote: It is hard to refute Ms Scarlett's logic
    :D:D:D:D:D
  • voodoonyc
    voodoonyc
    scarlett wrote: hotties is bikinis
    Is that a division of Toys R Us? :)
  • carmen
    carmen
    Aw Voodoo I'm so sorry!!! I know nothing about the laws surrounding this but please let me know how I can help (aside from fanning you with palm fronds whilst donning a bikini)
  • opossumqueen
    opossumqueen
    Voodoo, how's it going? I hope they'll give you the extension and you find an awesome new place!
  • voodoonyc
    voodoonyc
    OpossumQueen wrote: Voodoo, how's it going? I hope they'll give you the extension and you find an awesome new place!
    Thanks for checking in, OQ! I don't think an extension is going to happen at this point. Things are pretty ugly. Turns out a wicked stepdaughter in VA sent us the lease termination. I finally talked to elderly landlady yesterday and she basically called this woman the devil incarnate (it's deceased husband's first wife's daughter) and then she lawyered up and won't talk to anyone. So this is basically a huge family feud over inheritance. I have a few things in my favor making me believe this is just a scare tactic and nothing will most likely happen for at least a few months (termination was slipped under doors and not sent certified mail, so no proof it was sent; wicked stepdaughter is in Virginia, how long will it take her to evict us from there) but seriously, it would be less stressful for me to search for an apartment and get the hell out of there by the end of June. I'm mainly stressed because I have so. much. crap. but worse case scenario, I will lease a storage space and deal with some of the stuff over time. I'm stressed, but I'll survive. Thanks to everyone for their support....
  • whynot_31
    whynot_31
    scarlett wrote: Why would he want men when he needs to live out the best of bachelorhood with hotties is bikinis on his deck?
    true, but you'd think he'd allow others to watch.
  • astarte
    astarte
    Voodoo -

    I hope you can find another great place. You probably don't have to kill yourself to make it happen by end of June (for all the reasons you mentioned), so don't panic.

    Sucks when crazy family people come out of the woodwork over money. It happened to me.

    I also lived in a huge place for 10 years and had WAY too much stuff. It was overwhelming to think about packing, but I did it and am very happy and settled in my place now. You'll get to clear some shit out and start fresh.

    I started by doing a few boxes of books on the weekends, then seasonal clothes that I wouldn't need.....having an overlap of a week when i had both places made it much better.....I was able to transport food and clothes without packing them too carefully - just loaded up the car and made a bunch of trips.

    Good luck and keep us posted!
  • voodoonyc
    voodoonyc
    Thanks Flexi - I am kicking myself for not weeding out some of my wall of vinyl before this, but it is what it is. I also have a car and am hoping I can use it to transport more delicate stuff (plates and glassware, art, kitties!) and leave the big stuff for the movers.

    I have lots of support from friends offering to help purge and look for a place, so I shouldn't feel so overwhelmed - it'll help that I think I can take off at least a week, maybe 10 days to deal with it all.
  • carnivore
    carnivore
    My advice: if you can afford it, have the movers pack for you. They're professionals, and they'll do in 1 day what would take you weeks. Then you won't have to live amidst boxes of your stuff during your remaining time.

    These guys are the best: http://www.brownstonebros.com/

    They'll come over and look at the number of rooms and how much stuff you have and give you a binding estimate with a contract, so you'll know exactly how much it will cost with no surprises. No obligation for having them come over either. I used these guys for my last move and I can't recommend them enough. They're totally professional and they treat your stuff like they actually give a shit about it.

    In the meantime, spend your time looking for a new place rather than spending it packing. Hopefully you'll be looking in Park Slope and Prospect Heights!
  • voodoonyc
    voodoonyc
    Dude - that website rocks and I totally appreciate the rec. Never heard of them before. Thanks! A lot. If I can weed out all the shit I need to get rid of, I may have them come over and do a packing estimate as well - in any event I will very likely use them for the move. Do you think they'd keep a few thousand CDs in alphabetical order? If not I may have to do that myself.

    I am still pretty partial to my nabe, and most likely couldn't afford to pay my tab at Weather Up if I moved to PH, but I'm not ruling anything out at this point. :)
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