I have been living in a three bedroom dwelling in a six-apartment building in Brooklyn for nearly two years. It has recently come to my attention that, despite stipulations in the lease that state otherwise, I have been paying for heat and hot water through Keyspan for the entire duration of my stay here.
My roommates and I are vacating the apartment at the end of May, so we have decided to withhold our last month's rent as reparation for the additional costs of heating for the past two years.
I am sending a detailed report of this grievance to the landlord via certified mail, with copies of the Keyspan payment history, bill, and a copy of the lease with the stipulation highlighted.
I believe this is a fair call, especially because the disputed amount in heating bills exceeds the disputed amount for rent. I don't want this to be a big deal, but I am worried that the landlord will hold my security deposit as revenge.
Does anyone have suggestions or support on how to move forward with this?
Thanks!