So, I haven't been home much. Probably 1 night a week. Don't know if anything is going on or not. Last time I did laundry the "gym" was still as unfinished as it was before. But there is a sign about "information on membership fees coming soon." So I guess the gym is not an amenity. (Probably because they would have to offer it to the rent stabilized people who are paying under-market too, so they can't really roll the cost into rents).
I'm thinking about moving. Not for any particular reason, except I like change. I'm tempted to stay, it being stabilized with free utilities, including free A/C (and I like it cold).
Does anyone want a 2-bedroom in FBG? It's 1,350/month (which is the current going rate), but it's stabilized at that level, whereas most units have that as a preferential rate that can be jacked up quite a bit after the first year or two. Also, though FBG wouldn't agree with this, they cannot demand an A/C charge for any of three air conditioners, so it's free utilities, including free A/C. Also, there's a queen sized loft bed in the smaller room (which is good, because unless you're a kid, the second bedroom in FBG is just too small). That cost like $800 to build, and I don't really want to have to remove it (no piece of it fits out the door, i.e., I'm going to have to unscrew everything to get the wood out to the trash).
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My lease is coming up in about 2 months and I've been thinking about heading out myself. The main things stopping me are the expense of moving and the fact that, warts and all, it's hard to find something for quite this price for quite this much space (I do the parking thing too, which is a big plus).
I've had a lot of headaches these past few weeks (almost like Kismet telling me to go), but I think I'll stay just a little longer. And having been here a little while, I've got to say your deal sounds pretty good (if I could afford the rent increase, I'd jump at your place in a heartbeat). But you've gotta do what you've gotta do.
I have a question that maybe you can help me answer if you have the time.
1) I live at FBG and have "preferential rent", from your latest blog I'm interpreting that its different than rent stabilized? How is that possible?
2) Can you explain to me how they can't charge for the AC? I haven't gotten one because I thought they legally could.
Thanks!
1) A rent stabilized apartment has a legally set stabilized price. Your apartment has a stabilized price that will be stated on your lease, and that represents the maximum rent that can be charged for the apartment. The "preferential rent" come into play in places outside of Manhattan, like FBG, where the Fair Market rent is actually lower than the stabilized rent limit. So, for example, right now 2-bedrooms at FBG are being rented to new tenants for $1350/mo. If any vacant 2-bedroom unit has a stabilized rate of less than that, then they must rent it for only that rate. However, likely, the stabilized rate is more than that, say $1,487/mo. They are legally allowed to charge $1,487/mo, but no one would want to live there for that much, because the fair market rent in the area is about 1,250, so they give a "preferential rent" of $1,250. Be warned, when you renew term your rent stabilized level (NOT your preferential level) will go up by the amount stated by the RSB, and FBG can either offer you a renewal at the maximum stabilized level, or at a new preferential level. The renewal lease they offer you will in fact be about $100-$200/mo more than the monthly rate advertised on the site for new tenants, up to but not over the stabilized rate.
So, check your stabilized rate on your lease, increase it by 3% if you want to renew for a year or 6% if you want to renew for 2-years. This is the max they can charge you. If it's more than $200/mo over the currently advertised rates on the website, then expect a new pref. rent to be offered.
2) They can legally charge you the government set annual rate for an A/C unit in a rent stabalized utilities included unit. As for why I feel they can't charge me, please read this post, then let me know if you have any questions. Thanks.
http://flatbushnyc.blogspot.com/2009/08/no-ac-fee-for-me-ever.html
Sorry I'm late to the party. I checked out at the end of April. I really couldn't honestly say that I saw things getting better.
-Developed a rat & roach problem courtesy of garbage closet not being cleaned out after being emptied, and people just dropping their food in it.
-Increase in the loud noise and fighting in the hallways.
-Leak from the roof. (Living on the 6th floor has no perks)
-Kids stopping the elevator so they can drug up in the hallway without having the security interrupt them, CONSTANTLY. (Living on the 6th floor and coming home with groceries really sucks)
-car towed from the parking lot, twice. Once because they claimed they didn't know it was mine, and the 2nd time because another tenant didn't recognize my new car and reported that it didn't belong in my space. ($700.00 non refundable bill might I add)
-punch list of unresolved/ignored issues raised with maintenance and security. (longer than this one.)
It was a great apartment in 2008 when I moved there. I loved having proximity to a subway, and virtually every store I could ever shop in was either a reasonable subway trip or walk. It was affordable, it was spacious. Parking was a great add on, especially in the winter. While I won't actively protest anyone considering moving here for their first apartment, I would encourage them to use it to figure out where they want to be.
That said, I have recently moved to a loft space in Red Hook. It's about $500 more per month, however, I think that it's worth the money for peace of mind, safety, and above all comfort in the two.
Good luck on your move, and I appreciate your blog as a great resource for making the most out of FBG.
Cheers,
-A
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