Let’s say you decide to deduct part of a security deposit or withhold the entire amount to repair apartment damage left by a departing tenant. When you return the remainder of the deposit to the tenant, or if you return nothing at all, it’s a good idea to send a letter to the tenant...
Now that “Heat Season” has officially started on Oct. 1, it may be a good time to review the many city laws and regulations that focus on your building’s boiler room. Four city agencies can hit you with violations related to your building’s boiler and boiler room. Here...
The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has just announced an increase in this year’s air-conditioner rent surcharge for owners who pay for electricity. It set the monthly surcharge at $27.89, up from $22.66 last year. This year’s increase reflects a 5.9 percent increase...
When you renew a rent-stabilized tenant’s lease and raise the rent, you’re entitled to collect an increase in the tenant’s security deposit. That’s because you’re legally entitled to collect one month’s rent as a security deposit. So if the tenant’s...
You must file an Annual Apartment Registration application with the DHCR for every rent-stabilized apartment you own by July 31, 2013. As in past years, the penalty for not filing is stiff: You can’t collect a rent increase—or even apply for one—until you file.
The energy used in America’s buildings is responsible for almost 8 percent of global carbon emissions and costs Americans more than $500 billion every year. Despite this enormous impact and expense, much about this energy use remains mysterious. Unlike our general awareness of the mileage-...
If your building’s boiler breaks down this winter, you should be ready with a game plan to avoid fines, city-imposed repair charges, or rent cuts. You should be prepared to respond quickly and have your boiler repair company’s contact information handy.
The Department of Buildings (DOB) recently announced that the inspection and report deadlines for low- and high-pressure boilers have been extended to Dec. 31. In addition, reports for these inspections are now due no later than Feb. 15, 2013.
Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, as well as the second-costliest Atlantic hurricane in history, surpassed only by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. According to recent accounts, victims of Hurricane Sandy have been streaming into temporary emergency rooms and relief centers...
The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) has just announced a cut in this year's air-conditioner rent surcharge for owners who pay for electricity. It set the monthly surcharge at $22.66, down from $29.13last year. This year's decrease reflects a 22.2 percent decrease in the...
The time is approaching when you’ll need to get your heating system online for the upcoming cold weather. In New York City, heating season officially begins on Oct. 1. By law, owners are also required to provide tenants with heat under the following conditions: Between the hours of 6 a.m....
In our feature, we discussed one type of an illegal sublet: when a tenant rents out his or her apartment using short-term rental Web sites. But what happens when a tenant approaches you about a long-term rental agreement with another individual? In these situations, the tenant wants you to...
