Hi,
I have been living in an apartment for a year paying market rate. When I signed the lease, it was a standard 1 page double-sided nyc lease with no other riders. At lease renewal, LL offered me a renewal on an outdated (2004) rent-stabilized renewal lease. Being the first time I have heard about the apartment being rent-stabilized, I asked the LL and he admitted the apartment is stabilized and that my current rent is the legal rent. I inquired about rent history and he said he had it in his files and would need to look them up.
I went to the RS office and obtained the rent history and saw that the legal rent was much lower than what I am paying and furthermore, there is another tenant listed as living in the apartment for the same period that I have been. I asked the LL about the RS records and he said that the DHCR must have made a mistake, that he has made renovations to the apartment that brings the rent up to what I am paying now.
I have told the LL that I cannot sign the lease renewal he has offered me because it is not on the latest version of the renewal form that includes the rider showing the breakdown of the rent increase. The LL has not cashed my rent checks for 2 months (paying the same amount listed on my expired 1 year lease) and has not said anything to me about a new lease or the legal rent.
I am worried he will try to evict me for non-payment. Any advice on how to proceed from here?
Much appreciated.