Hi all, I hope you can help me with something.
I was wondering what reasons there could be a cheaper apartment is not regulated by rent stabilization. I've done a lot of googling and all I can find is if it is deregulated because of high rent. There are I guess the subsidies, but wouldn't a $1,250 apartment, still be subject to RS when they stop? (8 units, build in the 30's)
Also, can I sign the lease while I'm finding out if I'm paying too much for my apartment?
How did get to look for this answer?
My (now) wife has been living in this apartment for over a decade and I moved in with her 2 years ago. She signed a lease when she moved in and since then used verbal renewals with the landlord. In those 10 years he only raised the rent once or twice. My wife is neither the person to look into this, nor was there a need to know if the place was RS and I just moved here from Europe so didn't know anything to begin with.
Now around the time I moved in, her LL passed away and his family/corporation took over managing the building. That is when we actually had to start signing leases again. In the 3 leases since we went from $1,250 to $1,450 and now they are asking for another $200 increase.
We wrote them saying the increase was a bit steep and they offered to lower it by $50, but also stating the apartment does not fall under RS and the rent is still under market value (which is true).
The lease also says the apartment is not subject to rent regulations, but we can't find the lease from 10/12 years ago.
I did my research and the building is on the RS list from NYCRGB and I know it doesn't say anything about which apartments.
Tomorrow I'll also go to the DHCR office to find out the rent history.
Thank you for any help and information you guys can give me.