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Yeah I found an article that mentions what I was talking about:
"In one instance, Pinnacle allegedly recorded using 160 light bulbs, 75 pounds of grout, and 130 gallons of paint for the renovation of a single two-bedroom apartment in Harlem in order to justify raising that unit's rent to $1,900."
The Real Deal - Pinnacle Group: One big city landlord and many little headaches (http://www.therealdeal.net/issues/OCTOBER_2006/1159653168.php - broken link)
Obviously this stuff is nuts, but the rental market is tight enough that some of this stuff goes on in order for management company to make some $$$
I think they have to apply with the NYC Rent Guidelines Board and show proof of the work being done in order to get the increase. Tenants can also dispute the proposed increase, I know because people in my building have done it in the past (and lost, but the dispute was hard to prove).
Well, a friend of mine was paying $950, and when the building was bought the new owner wanted to raise the rent w/out updating anything. When my friend comlained the board saw that she was already paying too much and ordered that the landlord pay her back in retrograde. SO they came to an agreement that she does not have to pay rent for 6 months. And the best part when she starts paying rent again it will only be $500. I know this sounds crazy, but a lot of the time i heard with rent stabilized apts. you have to check what the last person was paying- and if there was not much improvement and it was raised over 2% you can fight to have your rent cut back.
I wonder if after doing this though the owners/management company running the building would try to retaliate somehow. I'd be afraid of doing this if only because they could probably make your life really miserable if they wanted to. If it really was a $400 difference though, that might be worth looking into.
Yeah the landlord gives my friend major attitude. But my friend is a tough New Yorker and gives it back to him. The thing is...tenants have more rights than owners. If the landlord did do anything she would be protected.
Me and my family are relocating back to the U.S. and we are trying to find an apartment in New York. Being overseas is proving to be more of a hindrance that realized. We're coming from Tokyo which now seems cheaper to live than New York.
I don't know if I'd say cheaper. You can find cheaper apartments in nice neighborhoods in Japan, but the square footage is generally much smaller.
You also have all of those cheap restaurants in Japan where you can get noodles or something else for a couple of bucks. Around here a slize of pizza is $2.50, a bagel with cream cheese is about $2 and Chinese food usually sets you back about $5 for something small.
The selection and quality of life just seems higher in Japan. Transit is much nicer, little to no crime, lots of bargains to be found, clean streets.
In NYC if you want something nice you generally have to pay out the nose for it. Thats the unfortunate reality of the situation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spanky0618
Me and my family are relocating back to the U.S. and we are trying to find an apartment in New York. Being overseas is proving to be more of a hindrance that realized. We're coming from Tokyo which now seems cheaper to live than New York.
I still have my rent-stabilized apartment in Chelsea, my rent is $930. I love walking to work, and going home to count a small amount of my fortune while I eat a delicious sandwiches for lunch. I've been here since '89 when the rent was $420. The neighborhood was a big dirty buttcrack back then, now I have banks and fancy Eurpoean restaurants beneath my apartment. Due to my fame the bank loans me money for free, and treat me to expensive dinners, with my favorite S' Cargo. I'm so, so classy, Thanks!
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