Short version: after years of being month-to-month in stabilized unit, have been sent a "renewal lease." Questions!
Long version (sorry): I signed an RSA "RESIDENTIAL STABILIZED LEASE" with preferential rent rider for my current studio apartment beginning 10/1/13 and ending 9/30/14. Not having received a renewal lease, in September 2014 I emailed my landlord to ask for one. He replied he would send one, but did so only many months later, backdated to the expiration of my current lease. The lease had the same preferential rent (no increase). I was not subsequently sent renewal leases and did not request them, continuing to pay the same rent every month for years.
Sometime during the summer of 2020 management was apparently handed over to a professional management company run by a member of my landlord's family. I missed some mail while out of the city for a few months during quarantine (my held mail was returned after 30 days), so it's possible I missed a letter and/or renewal lease; that said I was in the city through May 15 and should have received any mail through that date. I became aware of the management company only in August when I returned to see a bill indicating balances due for July and August 2020. The balances were 2.5% of the rent I had been paying (which I believe would indicate the increase for a two-year lease beginning around that time). I paid the balances without inquiring, and have continued to pay the new total monthly.
A week and a half ago, I received an RTP-8 renewal lease form dated 4/1--but postmarked 4/28, i.e. with fewer than 90 days' notice--offering me my choice of one- or two-year lease commencing 7/1. I was in fact already looking to move to a bigger apartment--but have no yet found one--and do not wish to give up my month-to-month status. I have not yet replied to the management company.
My questions:
(0. If I could ask as an aside--I am now looking for a one-bedroom in Manhattan, and although paying current market rates is feasible, I hesitate to move to a non-stabilized unit after past unpleasant lease renewal experiences. Some sources suggest Good Cause Eviction has excellent chances of passing soon, in which case my fears may be overblown. I haven't found many stabilized one-bedrooms in the neighborhoods I'm interested in, but my search methods may be amateurish. Quite by chance I found a broker who has some seemingly excellent stabilized listings for one of the big landlords, but quotes an exorbitant fee, the details of which I can share privately. I wonder if you have any advice on how much I should consider paying, or know of other brokers?)
1. It seems the 2.5% increase I have been paying this year may not have been quite kosher? (The money is not a big deal.)
2. Can I be forced to sign a lease now? If I have to be on a lease I would prefer it start later--I would have assumed it would be on my original October 1 schedule--to give me more time to look. Can the landlord insist on July 1?
Thank you for any help you can provide!
Best,
"Marcello"