I'm a Section 8 tenant in Westchester who has only signed yearly leases. For the past two years, the management company (on behalf of the landlord) has not sent me a lease renewal. This is a program requirement, but Section 8 office is not enforcing this. My theory is the landlord or managing agent (which runs the place) do not want to spend the $3 dollars for the certified mail, times hundreds of tenants per year.
Last year I was rushed/called into the Section 8 office for an "emergency" signing of the lease two days before the start of a new lease. This is a contract between landlord/tenant and shouldn't involve Section 8 at all. There was no months' advanced notice from management via certified mail. I signed it not realizing this was a trick to get the landlord higher rent without me reconsidering, hence the faux "emergency".
When I later realized what went down, I contacted the management company stating I was aware that I was tricked and even cited such a scenario from the Attorney General's website. The rep basically said that he understood the law, but too bad because I signed it.
I responded that State law requires proper notice via certified mail. As a consequence, the law permits the tenant keeps paying the old amount, including Section 8 tenants and which I did. This fact was ignored and they have been accumulating the difference for the past year.
Section 8 office has recently notified me stating that I have to pay the (large) amount of rent difference for past year or face program termination. I do not have it or am willing to pay it if I did. My new lease is supposed to be next month but have yet to receive any notice.
This mess is in addition to the fact that I've been seriously stalked and harassed by an employee at the complex for years. Despite tangible evidence of crimes, law enforcement will not help me and, according to lawyers, they're not legally required to. Requests to other governmental agencies to address this go ignored.
This additional scenario aggravates the situation as I don't want to seek out any additional funds above what I'm legally required to for the apparently wealthy/influential landlord, when he and his associates have clearly blocked access to hearings and victim services.
This second component to the story is not imperative to the legality of the lease renewal, but is worth mentioning. It is also nervy to pursue such tactics considering what was done to me.
Any advice? Thanks.