---

Posted by Matthew Rice on January 08, 1998 at 20:10:28:

I was wondering if someone might be able to answer a question or
point me in the right direction to find the answer.

At the end of July 1997 we moved apartments in Manhattan.
The apartment we moved in to had a rent of $1000 per month.
The landlord increased the rent by 27% and we signed a one year
lease for $1270.
At the time there was much going on with the rent stabilization
system in NYC and I really didn't understand what the maximum
increase could be at the time. (I though it should have been
just the 20% vacancy increase, but the landlord (or at least his
agency) claimed that they were allowed to add the 7% allowed annual
increase to the rent as well.)
I still do not have a full picture of what the laws allow. I really
can't seem to find a definitive law, just, it seems, opinions.

I have just read a page at http://www.tenant.net/Alerts/Guide/deal.html
that seems to indicate that we signed a lease that was 7% to high,
as allowed under the law. But again, I don't know if this is a law,
a law that applies to me, a possible interpretation of a law, or just
some gossip. (Note, the previous tenant had not been in the apartment
for more than about 4 years.)

My need is 2 fold.

1) what is the law that applied at the end of the summer of 97?

2) if, indeed, this law only allowed a 20% increase, do I have any
recourse to get my 6 X $70 back and have my rent reduced, from now on,
to $1200 until the next yearly increase? (I have signed the lease
which said $1270, but can this lease be valid if the rent asked is
illegal?)

Thank you for your time.

Matthew Rice

Follow Ups:

• Re: vacancy increase TenantNet 1/11/98 (0)
• Re: vacancy increase ed flaherty 1/10/98 (0)

---

Note: Posting is disabled in all archives
Post a Followup

Name    : 
E-Mail  : 
Subject : 

Comments:
: I was wondering if someone might be able to answer a question or 
: point me in the right direction to find the answer.
:  
: At the end of July 1997 we moved apartments in Manhattan.
: The apartment we moved in to had a rent of $1000 per month.
: The landlord increased the rent by 27% and we signed a one year
: lease for $1270.  
: At the time there was much going on with the rent stabilization 
: system in NYC and I really didn't understand what the maximum
: increase could be at the time. (I though it should have been 
: just the 20% vacancy increase, but the landlord (or at least his
: agency) claimed that they were allowed to add the 7% allowed annual 
: increase to the rent as well.)
: I still do not have a full picture of what the laws allow.  I really 
: can't seem to find a definitive law, just, it seems, opinions.
:  
: I have just read a page at http://www.tenant.net/Alerts/Guide/deal.html
: that seems to indicate that we signed a lease that was 7% to high,
: as allowed under the law.  But again, I don't know if this is a law,
: a law that applies to me, a possible interpretation of a law, or just
: some gossip.  (Note, the previous tenant had not been in the apartment
: for more than about 4 years.)
:  
: My need is 2 fold.
:  
: 1) what is the law that applied at the end of the summer of 97?
:  
: 2) if, indeed, this law only allowed a 20% increase, do I have any 
: recourse to get my 6 X $70 back and have my rent reduced, from now on,
: to $1200 until the next yearly increase?  (I have signed the lease
: which said $1270, but can this lease be valid if the rent asked is 
: illegal?)
:  
: Thank you for your time.
:  
: Matthew Rice


Optional Link URL:  
Link Title:         
Optional Image URL: 

---