For context - I live in a rent stabilized unit, in a 6-unit building that was privately owned when I signed my lease in 2021. Old landlord was great, I always pay on time, didn’t have any problems.
A few months ago we were notified the building was sold to a real estate development company. Myself and my neighbors were contacted and offered some cash to break our leases and move out. A few neighbors took the offer, but myself and the others who live in rent stabilized units did not. New landlord immediately starts flipping the now vacant units, updating some finishes and appliances and then charging $1000+ more per month for them.
About once every two months, I’ll be contacted by the new landlord office about my unit being “inspected.” I’m given the minimum 24 hour notice for access to the units per my lease, so sure. When the inspectors come they walk around my apartment and take photos of seemingly everything - a little discomforting because obviously these photos include all of my personal possessions. It almost seems like they’re doing a survey of the unit. I’ve asked them what the inspections are for, and I’m given vague answers about checking the condition of the apartment.
This week my landlord requested to inspect the unit, and I had a last minute work trip come up so I was unable to be present while the apartment was inspected. I do have a security camera in my apartment, so decided to check it while I was out. I see the two “inspectors” in the apartment, and one of them takes out a hammer and uses it to create a fist-sized hole in the wall. They bag some of the plaster and the two people leave.
Hammering a hole in the wall was certainly not communicated to me as part of the inspection. I contacted my landlord’s office when I returned back to my unit, raising a stink about the hole - like demanding what type of inspection required hammering a hole, what was the plan to fix the hole because it’s obviously not my responsibility, hammering holes in the wall and just leaving them there without any communication is not acceptable, etc. I get a vague apology response with a promise to fix the hole this weekend, but no real answers to my questions.
All of this to say, this entire situation feels strange. Obviously my landlord wants me out and is seemingly surveying my apartment for future construction work? Forgive my ignorance, but what are my rights here? Are they allowed to do these types of “inspections” - like photographing the entire unit, and hammering holes in the walls? Do I have any grounds to refuse access to my unit if these inspections are feeling more invasive than standard inspections to verify the condition of the unit? Is there a way they can suddenly kick me out to do the construction work they’re seemingly preparing to do? Any insight is appreciated