Hi, I signed a rent stabilized lease last October in Astoria. I hadn't received letter regarding lease renewal, so I reached out last month. After finally receiving the lease renewal (around 60 days before my lease expires), I noticed an 8% increase in the rent.
I told management I was under the impression my unit was rent stabilized, to which they replied, "the original lease was an error" and "the apartment isn't and never was rent stabilized." I requested documentation from DHCR which clearly states the apt was rent stabilized until 2010. After that, the records show it became Permanently Exempt.
The stabilized lease also included a Tax Benefits Rider for J-51 (Expiration of Rent Stabilization Coverage), however, the rider does not specify the year the the building's benefits expire. That field is left blank.
Any advice?