NOt renewing our lease

[boon]

I was wondering if anybody can help me. Our lease is just about to end. The landlord did not want to renew our lease due to the fact that the apartment is not my parents primary resident. And that my brother is living there and not them. We been living there for over 20 years. The situation is that my parents have a restaurant business upstate for 10-15 years. They rent a apartment up there so they do not have to commute. My mother kept the apartment for my grandmother to live in for over 10 years. She only goes up on the weekends to help at the restaurant. Resently, 2-3 years ago, I moved back down there after college to attend a technical school and find a job. I some conflict with the services that the landlord didnt' provide. Now I feel that one of the reason for them not to renew our lease is due to the fact that I complain about the lack of maintence that they didnt' provide.
I was told to wait for a eviction letter to go to court. I was wondering what is the chances of getting them to renew the lease for my grandmother and I? What is the chances of winning if we do go to court?? HOw can i obtain the original copy of the lease? I had a dog living there with me for over 2 years and they just told me that its not allow. I was wondering if they are just BSing me. What if they don't even have the copy of the original lease?? Pls Help me.

[custudent]

First, are you in a rent-regulated apartment?

If the unit is not rent-stabilized, the landlord can refuse to renew your lease for almost any reason.

Let us know if you are regulated. Then you have issues of primary residence, sucession rights, etc.

[HardKnocks]

The OP originally posted on another board, and says the unit is not rent-stabilized. Which is a shame, because it sounds like he/she would have succession rights.

[Cranky Tenant]

Unless you're living in a tiny apartment building, or co-op, you should check
http://www.tenant.net/.WWW/dhcraddr/rent.html
or contact DHCR to confirm that you're not rent regulated. It's certainly unusal for anyone who has been renting an apartment in Manhattan for the past 20 years not to come under regulation.

Primary residences really only apply to regulated apartments so if your Landlord actually gave this as a reason, there's a good chance your apartment is rent stabilized.