Hello everyone. Thank you very much for taking the time to read through this and provide any information that you possibly can.
I have currently lived in my apartment for close to a decade. The apartment is rent-stabilized. Luckily, we were able to find an affordable house and plan on moving out this summer. My mother, who lives in the same neighborhood, is dealing with issues in her current building that have led to a desire to leave her own apartment of many years. I'd like to understand what, if any, options I have to legally pass this apartment on to her. Some additional information:
1. From a financial standpoint, she technically would not qualify for what most landlords (including this one) are looking for. She's over 65 and on a fixed income which would leave her with about $1000 left over after paying the rent. I'd be willing to be my mother's guarantor/co-signer for the apartment if requested.
2. She has never lived in this apartment
3. The landlord agreed, in writing, to terminate our lease upon receiving a 30 day notice when we notified them that we found a home. I began this communication in an effort to ensure that we would not run into issues when we decided to move out, since it would most likely occur in the middle of a lease. Upon having that conversation, I asked them about the possibility of having a family member take over the lease. The landlords response was lukewarm towards that possibility, stating that they'll give the apartment to the most qualified individual. This scares me, since my mother would not fall under that category.
So, with that being said, I'd like to know what the best course of action is. Should I attempt to have a conversation with the landlord and communicate my desire to simply pass this apartment, as-is, to my mom, or do I have a legal recourse that would guarantee her getting rights?
Thank you again for any advice and insight that you might be able to provide. If any further information is needed, please don't hesitate to let me know.