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...
landlord-tenant disputes
Can a landlord charge more if you have children?
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...
Understanding succession rights in New York rentals
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...
Handling a dispute with your tenant
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...
Do tenants have the right to smoke pot in their apartments?
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...
What is normal wear and tear?
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...
Why do landlords include utilities?
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...
Property improvements and your rent in New York
Your apartment is rent stabilized, but you just got notice that your landlord is raising your rent due to improvements that have been made to the building. Is this legal? Quite possibly. It depends partially on the type of improvements your landlord made. Here’s what...
Can the landlord withhold the security deposit in New York?
Most lease agreements require new tenants to pay security at the beginning of the rental period. The security deposit is meant to replace or fix any damages or losses occasioned by the tenant. The tenant has a right to their security deposit at the end of the lease...
Can landlords turn down tenants with criminal records?
As a landlord, you want to know that the people you rent your apartments to will look after them well. You want to be sure they won’t use them to conduct criminal activity such as drug dealing or prostitution. You also want to know that a tenant will not threaten...