Hi all -
Some background: Rented in Brooklyn for about 3 years in a rent regulated apt - paid all of my rent on time and in full every month. I needed to vacate my family from the apartment - it was a breach of the warranty of habitability.
I realize this is a judgment call but even on the day I moved in the super confirmed that all of the apartments on my line has had issues with insects (CRs). The cabinets were in an abysmal state when I moved in. Office refused to repair them. I spent $600 on cleanup and new boards for the cabinets.
At some point something escalated - the problem grew beyond our reach despite using every best practice (not a scrap of anything anywhere!). We had to shut down usage of the shelves and cabinets. We moved - left a message with the office and send a move-out letter. Return receipt and all. No response from the landlord.
We literally heard nothing for 20 months. In fact the day we moved out the super texted the office and they did not reply to him. He himself was growing frustrated with the office.
All of a sudden we get a letter from a lawyer trying to collect a debt - saying we owe $4,000+. (They did not state what it was for). It feels like a ploy to engage me.
(I realize the LL has 6 years to follow on unpaid rent). In my mind this is not a lease break - if the landlord has breached the warranty of habitability the lease is null and void as far as I'm aware. Again I understand that only really a judge can rule on this....
The letter says something along the lines that if I do not reply within 30 days they will assume the charge is valid. Obviously that is simply a scare tactic because there's no law that says if you don't reply to mail w/in 30 days everything in the letter is magically true.
But I guess I'm curious what would even happen if just ignore this letter?
Do I even bother to respond? If so, I am thinking I re-state my case that I fulfilled all my obligations and let the chips fall where they may.
I have lots of proof of the move in condition and quite a few pictures with respect to proving my case, as well as the fact that they have put myself and other tenants in danger. *Part of me* is very confident and would actually want to go to small claims court to see this through (I could probably recoup the $600 possibly and frankly all the money I spent b/c I had to move) but surely I have better things to do.
I've dealt with things like this in the past, but I'm open to suggestions. Would would you all do?