Increase in rent retroactively
Posted by Joanna on November 17, 2001 at 07:44:49:
For some time I have been involved in a landlord
dispute.I am in a rent stabilized apt.in Far
Rockaway,Queens.For many years,there was no
heat or hot water for days,toilet back-ups,
electrical outages,water cascading from the
floor over me,ceiling in bathroom fell,kitchen
wall collapsed etc. The city fixed some of these
serious problems.All the whole the landlord was
rabid in his intent to get me out. I stopped
paying rent.BUT HE DID NOT TAKE ME TO COURT.
After some years,I became afraid,as I now owed
untold amounts of money. So I my-self did not
persue this in the court as I rightly should
have. Finally I received a letter from the
city housing att.They were suing him for many
violations,not just mine.Most of the violations
were repaired in other apts.Then he was forced
to fix and put in new bath-room,in mine.The
floor was falling,bath-tub falling, sink ready
to collapse etc.I have some other problems that
need to be addressed and the atty.stated to
the landlord that the must fix,or they will
access fines thru the court. He saw what needed
to be done. I asked if he wanted me to pay
rent,also asked for a lease. He said he would
take rent.But said I have a lease.He refused to
give me a lease many years ago,when this whole
morass started,as he snarled I would be out on
the street in a week.There are many more threats
and screaming insults,from him thru the years,He
told all neighbors that I was a junkie, and sold
drugs,effectively,isolating me from seeking any
friend-ships here.They mainly speak spanish,and
I mainly speak english, so it was very difficult
for me just to go to them and explain. Landlord
speaks spanish. He now claims that a law in
the year 2000,entitles him to all the retroactive
increases thru the years.I had no lease,the city
sent notice last year of what I should be paying
and it is still the same as I had been paying.Not
what he is claiming.I gave him a check for that
amount.He is entiltled to back rent,when this
was what amounted to a back woods hovel?I have
fought him for years and all this time that he
has made my life and my children's life a misery,
does he in effect get rewarded for this?I told
him my atty's name how-ever I really haven't
used this atty.for some time.Finances became
really bad,now landlord said he would take to
atty not me.So I am probably going to be made
out to be a liar,as stated previously I no longer
use atty.(Also I used to work for said atty)Oh
what a bigger mess I can get my-self into for
opening my big mouth.I am still in fear of this
landlord he has not been stable,for a long time
and he just might cause a lot more trouble for
me.I cannot move,with the money for rents still
in more money than I make in a month.I cannot
even think of moving.City housing is not an
option,I make too much. Section Eight has a 6
years and counting wait.With the homeless 1st.
and rightly so.Please help me,Or at lease point
me in the right direction.I must have answers as
soon as possible, he intends to go to atty's ofc.
on Mon.
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