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Old 12-20-2020, 02:20 PM
 
828 posts, read 415,637 times
Reputation: 1148

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That would make sense why she does not want you to see the bill. To see the address and unit number.

And could be as simple as she has a friend or friend of another tenant that wants the place.

Unfair I know but not much can be done when your lease expires.
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Old 12-20-2020, 06:36 PM
 
5,989 posts, read 6,777,868 times
Reputation: 18486
You can count on her not renewing the lease. But if you want any advice regarding making things more peaceful, first of all, stop getting angry at people, stop shouting at them, cursing them out, and NEVER do this to a landlord! They'll get rid of you so fast.

Put carpets down in all the rooms, everywhere you possibly can in the unit. Leave your shoes at the door - go barefoot or wear slippers in the apartment. That will help with the noise. In fact, it's in most leases that the occupant promises to put carpets down on about 90% of the floor space.

Walk down the stairs lightly, and quietly. Be considerate of your neighbors.

As for the electricity use - your Sec 8 is paying at a higher rate, because it includes all utilities. Usually, the lease will prohibit the use of space heaters. I think that the LL is required to provide heat to keep the unit at 68 days, 62 nights (10 pm to 6 am). Get a room thermometer and if the temperature is above those parameters, she's providing sufficient heat. Put on a sweater. If she is not providing adequate heat to meet those guidelines, notify her in writing. If she still doesn't provide sufficient heat, contact NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development. You should only be using space heaters if she doesn't provide sufficient heat (68 days/62 nights) AND you've notified her, she's done nothing, AND you have notified HPD.

As for her frequent "inspections". Clearly, this LL is unhappy to have to pay for your electricity use, even though she's getting paid a premium for it by Sec 8. So she's coming in to turn off lights and fans. You need to force her to give you 24 hrs notice, AND insist that she wear a mask, and hand sanitize at the door. Make it hard for her to come in, by enforcing the terms of the lease, and she will stop doing it.

Once you've reported her to HPD (IF she is not providing heat to 68 days/62 nights), you will be protected from her terminating the lease, due to it being viewed as retaliation for reporting her for a housing violation. But that's only IF she really isn't providing sufficient heat.

I am SO sorry that you had to pay a broker's fee for a Sec 8 apartment. It is so hard to find a Sec 8 unit in NYC, and if you have to move, the fee is lost, so I would do everything possible to "make nice" with the LL and make her want to keep you. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when you leave the room. Don't use space heaters if she is providing the legal amount of heat. Use the electricity as if YOU were paying the bill. Put down carpets, take off shoes, walk quietly, and when going down the stairs, walk quietly and wait until you're outside to talk. It is totally reasonable to ask her to abide by the 24 hrs notice, and to ask her to mask and sanitize. Hopefully, once she realizes you are trying to be responsible about electricity use, she'll calm down.

You will NEVER be able to stay in a unit if you view the LL as your enemy. If she really is a crazy woman, you may want to move at the end of the lease. But if you want to stay, know that it's virtually impossible for her to evict you, the courts are SO biased in favor of the tenant in NYC. If necessary, go to legal aid. They'll probably be able to keep you in there for the next decade, against her will, if necessary.
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