I am living in a rent regulated apartment building in Brooklyn.
After hurricane Sandy I have been about a month behind in my rental payments because the building did not have heat and I did not know if it will be liveable for the winter.
Eventually management published a letter on the walls in the hallways saying that everyone should still pay as they are not responsible for the heating boiler being damaged after the hurricane but are working on fixing it.
I said OK and resumed rental payments.
On January 11, 2013 I sent in my latest payment by check that covered all that I owed in arrears.
However, on January 15th a 3 day notice was put under my door dated as of Saturday, January 12 saying that I still owe rent and if I don't pay within 3 days an eviction process will be started in court.
Now I am seeing that management has still not cleared my checks and now worried that they simply want to reject my payments and use this situation as an excuse to get me out of the building (perhaps to raise rent to next tenant).
1) In the 3 day notice, the amount owed said for a higher standard rental amount, but I had signed the lease for preferential rent.
2) When the original lease renewal documents were sent to me in September 2012, they were dated 26 days before the expiration of my previous lease with this building, not 60 days as required.
Am I now at serious risk of being evicted?
1) I have proof that landlord is sloppy in following NYC housing regulations
2) I have proof that I sent in all payments they demanded from my bank's bill pay account
3) Is there anything I can tell the landlord's management company now to stop them from going to court?
4) What else can I do to defend myself?