NYC apartment life - never for the faint of heart
So, a couple of days ago, an envelope in my mailbox, from the company that manages this building. And, in the window, right below the address, "The owner hereby notifies you that your lease will expire on [date]".
*FUUUU*!
...I mean, I know I sent in my renewal form a few weeks ago, but, hey, maybe it got lost in the mail. Maybe what I sent and what they're sending just crossed paths. Or maybe they're just trying to scare me for the hell of it - or refusing to acknowledge *that* they got my renewal form.
(...if I know one thing, it's that in New York State, and for a rent-controlled/rent-stabilized apartment, barring some specific situations, a landlord is required to offer to renew a tenant's lease at the end of the lease term, and accept the response.)
...so, I mean, I don't start worrying/freaking out right away, but I am, like, urgh, OK, let's look at this tomorrow.
...then, tomorrow comes, so I look at this. And just feel silly. Because, all I actually got *is* a copy of the original Lease Renewal Form that the landlord first sent me a couple of months ago. Which, yes, has the "your lease will expire on" line at the top, and then, below that, an Offer to Tenant to Renew. Which I accepted, signed, mailed - and yeah, now am just looking at the counter-signed version.
(...also, still getting kind of a kick out of just how much this management company's basic approach to *a lot of things* is pretty much 'least possible effort'. No, the building is not *nice* by any means, but on the other hand, they're also pretty lax about when exactly the rent is due. Or the proper procedure for moving out, if you don't particularly care about your security deposit - and just use it as the last month's rent. I mean, yeah it took complaining to the City for them to repair the kitchen ceiling after a leak - but once I complained, and we got an inspector to confirm that yes, there is indeed a hole in the kitchen ceiling, that was repaired what, the next day?
...and, even with the lease renewal form - under New York law, a tenant is supposed to receive one "not less than 90 days nor more than 150 days" before the start of the next lease term. The form they sent was dated December 8 - *certainly* less than 90 days from March 1. Well, easy correction - when I'm responding to it, cross out March 1, replace with April 1, include a short letter explaining what I'm doing and why. And in the final, counter-signed copy, yeah, the new lease is now set to start on April 1...)
(...gotta say, though, every time I look at my lease forms, and the Legal Rent - i.e., what they are officially *allowed* to charge for this, as opposed to what I'm actually paying - I can't help but feel bad for new people just now coming into this neighborhood, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and eager and priced out of *other neighborhoods*, and impressed by things like that new Austrian bar/restaurant across the street, and the AD&D-themed bar that's set to open down the block - and are paying if not quite the Legal Rent - then at least a sum that's probably a lot closer to it than mine!)
...uh, anyways, end of things - So, 2 Hinckley. Let's do this for one *more* year. Then think about what we're doing.
Again.
*FUUUU*!
...I mean, I know I sent in my renewal form a few weeks ago, but, hey, maybe it got lost in the mail. Maybe what I sent and what they're sending just crossed paths. Or maybe they're just trying to scare me for the hell of it - or refusing to acknowledge *that* they got my renewal form.
(...if I know one thing, it's that in New York State, and for a rent-controlled/rent-stabilized apartment, barring some specific situations, a landlord is required to offer to renew a tenant's lease at the end of the lease term, and accept the response.)
...so, I mean, I don't start worrying/freaking out right away, but I am, like, urgh, OK, let's look at this tomorrow.
...then, tomorrow comes, so I look at this. And just feel silly. Because, all I actually got *is* a copy of the original Lease Renewal Form that the landlord first sent me a couple of months ago. Which, yes, has the "your lease will expire on" line at the top, and then, below that, an Offer to Tenant to Renew. Which I accepted, signed, mailed - and yeah, now am just looking at the counter-signed version.
(...also, still getting kind of a kick out of just how much this management company's basic approach to *a lot of things* is pretty much 'least possible effort'. No, the building is not *nice* by any means, but on the other hand, they're also pretty lax about when exactly the rent is due. Or the proper procedure for moving out, if you don't particularly care about your security deposit - and just use it as the last month's rent. I mean, yeah it took complaining to the City for them to repair the kitchen ceiling after a leak - but once I complained, and we got an inspector to confirm that yes, there is indeed a hole in the kitchen ceiling, that was repaired what, the next day?
...and, even with the lease renewal form - under New York law, a tenant is supposed to receive one "not less than 90 days nor more than 150 days" before the start of the next lease term. The form they sent was dated December 8 - *certainly* less than 90 days from March 1. Well, easy correction - when I'm responding to it, cross out March 1, replace with April 1, include a short letter explaining what I'm doing and why. And in the final, counter-signed copy, yeah, the new lease is now set to start on April 1...)
(...gotta say, though, every time I look at my lease forms, and the Legal Rent - i.e., what they are officially *allowed* to charge for this, as opposed to what I'm actually paying - I can't help but feel bad for new people just now coming into this neighborhood, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and eager and priced out of *other neighborhoods*, and impressed by things like that new Austrian bar/restaurant across the street, and the AD&D-themed bar that's set to open down the block - and are paying if not quite the Legal Rent - then at least a sum that's probably a lot closer to it than mine!)
...uh, anyways, end of things - So, 2 Hinckley. Let's do this for one *more* year. Then think about what we're doing.
Again.