Hello and thanks in advance to everybody who will reply.
I have been a tenant for 4 years in coop building. Apartment is owned by management. My lease expires on September 30, 2002.
In mid July I sent a letter to management informing them that I am not going to renew my lease and would like to use my 2 security
deposit as last 2 month rent payments. They never replied. Beginning of August I've got a letter from management telling me that
I did not pay rent for August. As soon as I received the letter I call to management and again explain that I would like them to use
my security deposit. I talked to person who was given me as a contact person in building management, she said if you want us to
use your security deposit - fine, but I can not stop the letter about your missed rent payment, just disregard them at all. This is what
I did. In the beginning of September I moved out, but I still have some staff left in the partment, because I knew my lease due
September 30. We come to the old apartment every other day to collect mail and pick some more thing to bring to our new place.
1 week ago my husband came to the apartment and could not open the door, the lock did not work - the super changed the lock.
Yesterday I called super and he transfered me to the building manager (very rude guy) who told me that they smelled gas and thought
that it was coming from my apartment, so they had to force the door to open and then change the lock. I said - fine, then give me the new
key. He told me - "NO", because you did not pay rent for 2 month we can not let you in. If you want to collect whatever left in the
apartment you have to come Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and super will supervise you into the apartment. Also he told me there are so
many damage in the apartment, I am going to sue you for every scratch and door knob. I explained him about my conversation with the lady
from management, and that she told me that we can use security deposit, he told me that she was not authorise to tell you this.
I thought that the day before my lease expires I will come to apartment, clean it, and I wanted to make pictures of every room, so I have proof
how the apartment looks when I leave it. But now I can not do this. And they have access to the apartment and can do there whatever
they want.
Please advise me what you think about the situation. I am not worried about the staff left (actually nothing valuable), but about damage that
they can make and tell me it is mine and I have to pay. How I will proof anything later???
Thanks a lot, I know I wrote a lot, but it is hard explain the whole sictuation in few words.
Angela.