I'm asking for a friend.
She is a tenant living in an apt in a three family home in Brooklyn (LL also lives in the building). She has lived here for five years.
Her two year lease expired in November and she is now month-to-month. The LL has been cashing her rent checks.
The landlord wrote her a letter asking for 3 additional months ($5,000.) as a security deposit if she wants a new lease. The landlord already has one month rent as security from when my friend moved in.
Is it leagl for the landlord in a private house to now ask for this type of additional 3 month security deposit as a requirement to renew the lease?
My friend has been a very good tenant, she's a mature women with two school age children.
The Landlord has not requested a rent increase only the 3 months additional security.