---

Posted by Philosopher Ted on September 23, 2000 at 23:27:10:

In Reply to: Paint for Heat... even trade? posted by C. Edward on September 23, 2000 at 19:47:05:

: (NYC rent stab. tenement ap't.)

NYC rent stab says it all right there. What you are proposing seems to be a fair, common sense solution to this problem. Unfortunetly, the rent stabilization law are written to force the landlord/tenant into an adversarial relationship, instead of a customer/business arrangement as in other cities. In another post you stated that your rent is $300 less than when you moved in and apparently hasn't increased in six years. Do you think your landlord can make any profit renting apartments in this way ? Only by cutting back on building maintainance and services.

Another important drawback to rent stabilized leases is that all terms of your lease are set by the city government -- NOT via negotiation between you and the LL. The law essentially assumes you are stupid or incapable of deciding what you want. "Tenant activists" consider this a victory becuase they can try to use political force to keep well connected long-time residents in apartments with ridiculously low rents. But the result such an arrangement is to elevate almost any simple dispute into a full blown landlord/tenant lawsuit, and, as you've said, ordinary people have better things to do than fight in court all day.

Your idea is a sensible one and you have nothing to lose by proposing it. But realize that you're up against a lot more than your landlord. You're challenging a city culture with five decades of housing mismanagement and all the resulting problems that has created. Best of luck.

Follow Ups:

• Stick to the point. chelsea 09/24/00 (1)
  • Re: Stick to the point. C. Edward 09/24/00 (0)

---

Note: Posting is disabled in all archives
Post a Followup

Name    : 
E-Mail  : 
Subject : 

Comments:
: : (NYC rent stab. tenement ap't.) 

: NYC rent stab says it all right there.  What you are proposing seems to be a fair, common sense solution to this problem.  Unfortunetly, the rent stabilization law are written to force the landlord/tenant into an adversarial relationship, instead of a customer/business arrangement as in other cities.  In another post you stated that your rent is $300 less than when you moved in and apparently hasn't increased in six years.  Do you think your landlord can make any profit renting apartments in this way ?  Only by cutting back on building maintainance and services.

: Another important drawback to rent stabilized leases is that all terms of your lease are set by the city government -- NOT via negotiation between you and the LL.  The law essentially assumes you are stupid or incapable of deciding what you want.  "Tenant activists" consider this a victory becuase they can try to use political force to keep well connected long-time residents in apartments with ridiculously low rents.  But the result such an arrangement is to elevate almost any simple dispute into a full blown landlord/tenant lawsuit, and, as you've said, ordinary people have better things to do than fight in court all day.

: Your idea is a sensible one and you have nothing to lose by proposing it.  But realize that you're up against a lot more than your landlord.  You're challenging a city culture with five decades of housing mismanagement and all the resulting problems that has created.  Best of luck.


Optional Link URL:  
Link Title:         
Optional Image URL: 

---