An acquaintance left his apartment after nearly 2 decades of residency and I signed a “lease” with him last July ’16 and have paid $2,200 to him each month since. He is the primary tenant and notified me last month that he didn’t renew the lease. Since I’ve made this a home and did more upkeep than he ever had I said I’d like to try to say and asked him to refer me to the management company. He did and told them I was his cousin and because he’s known them awhile he said “they are eager to get the apartment back, but are willing to let me stay with the understanding that no renovation will be done and a rent increase to $2,500.” I submitted my application, but haven’t received details on the monthly rent or the lease in my email communications with the company. I confirmed with the DHCS that the unit was registered as rent stabilized in 2016.
Today, they management company said their attorney is finalizing the surrender documents. I thought surrender documents were for when you break a lease and the primary tenant's lease supposedly ends on August 30, 2017 so I don’t understand why those would need to be drafted for me to take over a lease. Since the management company doesn’t know that the primary tenant illegally sublet the apartment to me and that I’m living there, I worry surrender documents will cancel any chance I have at moving in. The building has recently received violation notices and my unit isn’t in the best shape so my friend suggested I just go ahead and send them a rent check and if they cash it they are bound to it. Any suggestions on how to handle this situation? I’m new to NYC and really don’t want to move in 2 weeks if I can help it.