The “Fair Chance for Housing Act” is slowly moving forward through the New York City Council’s review, despite fierce opposition from landlords – and maybe some tenants. The proposed law had a lot of support from council members and the city’s mayor, but not everybody...
Landlords often take security deposits when someone signs a new lease. You’ve probably heard people complain that landlords will try to keep these for reasons that are not valid. And, while that certainly does happen in some situations, it’s also important to note...
Rent stabilization laws can sometimes create a lot of confusion for both landlords and tenants alike – because even a rent-controlled apartment can have the rent raised when the landlord needs to make some improvements. Landlords (and tenants) should understand the...
It’s fairly common for a landlord to charge an extra fee if someone has a pet. They understand that the pet may cause extra damage to the apartment, and they may have to have it repaired or cleaned when the tenant moves out. The landlord may not deny the pet entirely...
If you’ve had your eye on a parent or grandparent’s rent-stabilized or rent-controlled apartment as a way to finally be able to afford to live in New York, you may have heard about succession rights. Let’s take a brief look at what these are (and aren’t). First of...
Disputes with a tenant are almost inevitable. You may have a misunderstanding about trivial issues like minor repairs to a full-blown fallout over things like non-payment of rent or damage to the property. Either way, you need to find an efficient and cost-effective...
It seems as if the country’s marijuana laws are in a constant state of flux these days. However, in all five boroughs of New York City, recreational use of marijuana is legal for residents aged 21 and older. But the list of places where smoking cannabis is entirely...
Residential leases serve as a crucial form of protection for landlords and the tenants that lease their properties. The terms outlined in a New York lease can determine when a landlord has the right to evict someone and what amenities a tenant can expect. However,...
As a landlord, it's inevitable that some level of damage or deterioration is going to occur while someone else is leasing the space from you. Landlords often take security deposits and to give them a little bit more protection. If the tenant causes severe damage to...
As a landlord, you may be trying to decide if you should include the utilities in the monthly payment. You can either charge someone rent and then tell them they have to pay the utilities on top of that, or you can raise the amount that they have to pay each month and...
