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Posted by chelsea on March 11, 2001 at 13:18:12:

In Reply to: Re: renovation rent hike posted by gretchen on March 09, 2001 at 20:19:43:

The guidelines for new leases starting in December 1998 allowed a 20 percent rent increase for two-year leases for apartments with stabilized rents of more than $500. (Actually, a little more, depending on when it had been vacated last, but that's the rough amount.) That would bring the $545 rent to $654. On top of that, the landlord can charge 1/40th of the cost of documented improvements. To get the legal rent, the landlord would have had to spend about $25,000 on improvements. ($1,275 - $675) x 40 = $24,840.
Does it look like that much was spent, i.e., is it a brand new luxury apartment? You should ask DHCR if they have records of how much was spent, and get a copy.

Has your initial rent and renewals been registered accurately with the amount you actually paid? Have increases on renewals been within the legal guidelines? (see wwwhousingnyc.com)

If you've been overcharged, you can file a complaint to recover the overcharge, times three, with DHCR (very slow, and risky) or hire a lawyer, stop paying rent and take it to housing court (faster, safer but upfront legal fees can be expensive, though you will recover them if you win).

Chelsea

: We recieved the information from the DHCR. Our apartment is listed as having 6 rooms (after renovations there are only 4). The previous tennant paid, under rent stabilization, $545 in 1998. We then took over the apartment (post renovations) in Dec of 1998 paying $1275. The DHCR form indicates that an ammendment to the annual apartment registration filed by the owner has been recorded. What do we do next? Thanks for the quick response to our first letter!

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Comments:
: The guidelines for new leases starting in December 1998 allowed a 20 percent rent increase for two-year leases for apartments with stabilized rents of more than $500. (Actually, a little more, depending on when it had been vacated last, but that's the rough amount.) That would bring the $545 rent to $654.   On top of that, the landlord can charge 1/40th of the cost of documented improvements.  To get the legal rent, the landlord would have had to spend about $25,000  on improvements.  ($1,275 - $675) x 40 = $24,840.
: Does it look like that much was spent, i.e., is it a brand new luxury apartment?   You should ask DHCR if they have records of how much was spent, and get a copy.

: Has your initial rent and renewals been registered accurately with the amount you actually paid?  Have increases on renewals been within the legal guidelines? (see wwwhousingnyc.com)

: If you've been overcharged, you can file a complaint to recover the overcharge, times three, with DHCR (very slow, and risky) or hire a lawyer, stop paying rent and take it to housing court (faster, safer but upfront legal fees can be expensive, though you will recover them if you win).

: Chelsea


: 
: : We recieved the information from the DHCR.  Our apartment is listed as having 6 rooms (after renovations there are only 4).  The previous tennant paid, under rent stabilization, $545 in 1998.  We then took over the apartment (post renovations) in Dec of 1998 paying $1275.  The DHCR form indicates that an ammendment to the annual apartment registration filed by the owner has been recorded.  What do we do next? Thanks for the quick response to our first letter!


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