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Posted by Regina on June 14, 2000 at 13:36:28:

In Reply to: Re: access to basement.... posted by SamE on June 14, 2000 at 08:02:43:

I know that the tenants are allowed to read the meter themselves, if they know how to do that, but, how can they do that in this case if they do not have access to the basement?

: : Are we as tenants not obligated to have the basement to use as storage space.

: NO, not unless controlled/stabilized tenants USED TO HAVE storage. esp on the 'base dates'. Landlord is not allowed to reduce services like storage but not required to provide it if you never had it. There's a DHCR fact sheet on this: 'required / essential services' on tenant.net home.

: : And is it legal for the landlord to transform the basement into a apartment, thus making it a nine unit building????

: Maybe: can be legal if it is a basement, can never be legal if it is a cellar. Cellar has more than 1/2 of room height below the curb / sidewalk level. Look at the Certificate of Occupancy to find out: it is supposed to be posted, if not go get a copy at the Buildings Department.

: Legal or not, nine units is good for tenants: pretty sure nine is the cutoff for requiring a live-in / live-near super. Look that up in Tenants Guide or

: Your ConEd bill shows the next meter reading date: remind your super / landlord at least twice before that date, post a notice in the lobby, ask him to leave the basement unlocked if they can't be there. Tenants can also make an appointment with ConED, or read the meter themselves and phone it in.

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Comments:
: I know that the tenants are allowed to read the meter themselves, if they know how to do that, but, how can they do that in this case if they do not have access to the basement?

: : : Are we as tenants not obligated to have the basement to use as storage space. 

: : NO, not unless controlled/stabilized tenants USED TO HAVE storage. esp on the 'base dates'.  Landlord is not allowed to reduce services like storage but not required to provide it if you never had it.  There's a DHCR fact sheet on this: 'required / essential services' on tenant.net home.

: : : And is it legal for the landlord to transform the basement into a apartment, thus making it a nine unit building????

: : Maybe: can be legal if it is a basement, can never be legal if it is a cellar.  Cellar has more than 1/2 of room height below the curb / sidewalk level.  Look at the Certificate of Occupancy to find out: it is supposed to be posted, if not go get a copy at the Buildings Department.

: : Legal or not, nine units is good for tenants: pretty sure nine is the cutoff for requiring a live-in / live-near super.  Look that up in Tenants Guide or 

: : Your ConEd bill shows the next meter reading date: remind your super / landlord at least twice before that date, post a notice in the lobby, ask him to leave the basement unlocked if they can't be there.  Tenants can also make an appointment with ConED, or read the meter themselves and phone it in.


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