Regardless of your feelings about rent controls, both landlords and tenants should understand as much as possible about the different situations when rent can be raised despite rent stabilization. One of the most common situations that comes up is when a landlord...
landlord-tenant disputes
What to do when there’s a dispute over a rent payment
Managing rental properties can be challenging, and dealing with disputes over rent payments adds an extra layer of complexity. As a landlord, encountering a situation where a tenant claims to have paid rent but there’s evidence to the contrary requires a strategic...
Can your tenant put the unit on Airbnb?
As a landlord, you may have a tenant who is not in their unit 100% of the time. Maybe they travel for work. Perhaps they spend time staying with a significant other. Maybe they are simply busy and they spend a lot of time outside of New York for leisure or vacation....
7 issues that might violate a lease
Landlords and residents typically sign leases. A lease establishes what each party expects from the other. Generally, every lease has a set of rules that tenants must follow. If these are not followed, then the tenant may violate their lease, which can lead to...
My landlord won’t make repairs: What do I do?
Wear and tear are granted in any occupied property. But what happens when, after a breakage, a malfunction or a wear-out, the landlord decides to take their sweet time to fix the problem? As a tenant, you have a duty to pay rent on time and adhere to the terms of the...
Rental repairs: What are New York landlords responsible for?
As with many other places, landlords must provide tenants with habitable living conditions in New York. This is a principle legally referred to as the "warranty of habitability." It implies they must make necessary repairs and regularly maintain the premises safe and...
Who pays to get rid of roaches or other pests at rental units?
Those renting in Queens or elsewhere in New York City pay a premium for relatively small spaces. Many of them, therefore, take excellent care of the places they call home, but not everyone makes safety and cleanliness a top priority. Tenants have a major impact on...
How to handle tenant conflict
Conflicts can sometimes occur between tenants. If they do it is important for landlords to realize that they cannot just evict someone, as the law gives tenants a lot of protection. Here is how you can handle a problematic tenant: Have rules The easiest way to avoid...
What is normal wear and tear?
Landlords and tenants will sometimes find themselves in disputes over who has to pay for repairs to a space. This can happen to both residential and commercial tenants. The landlord may contest that the tenant damaged the space and should have to repair it, while the...
5 common lease violations
Tenants have to follow their lease agreements when living in apartments. Many lease agreements have very basic and universal terms. But, some landlords may be particular and include unique terms in a lease. To ensure that a lease agreement is being followed, it may be...