In the last two years I have been living in a rent stabilized apartment paying rent (no overcharge) directly to the primary lease holder who does not live in the apt. the landlord has sent a 'notice of non-renewal of lease and termination of tanancy' stating that the apt is not her primary residence. the lease is up for renewal in four months. do i have any options? should i persuade the landlord to give me a legit lease? do i have any rights?
That being said, you might be able to persuade the LL to rent to you, as opposed to someone off the street. Call him acknowledge the situation, and ask him about getting a vacancy lease in your name. Point out the fact that if he did this, he wouldn't have to lose rent, which he would if he had to wait for you to vacate, and then start showing the apartment.
You may have a problem if the LL wants to gut and renovate the apartment with an eye toward MCIing it out of stabilization. In that case, he probably will want the apartment vacant.