No a/c fee for me... EVER!

I've decided I'm not going to pay the A/C fee. Before getting into this, I would just like to state for the record, that in theory, I think all these rent-stabalization laws are stupid and counter-productive. However, I'm not going to say no to free money.

Also, very important, I know FBG doesn't read this, but I really wish they did, because I will say this and mean it... Getting into these little fights costs me more money than I save, by being away from work to do it. If FBG management showed one drop of courtesy or respect, I would gladly pay these things instead of fighting over them. However, since they have ignored 10s of phone messages, 10s of voicemails, and 10s of letters mailed to them, all requesting that they just call me back so I may ask them a question or two, since they have ignored me so much, I will be a pain, and exercise my rights to not pay them.

Here's a fun fact about the air conditioner fee:
http://www.dhcr.state.ny.us/rent/factsheets/orafac27.htm

"An owner may collect from a rent stabilized tenant any of the charges for an air conditioner without obtaining a DHCR order. An owner must charge a tenant for an air conditioner at the time the units are initially installed, or within a reasonable period of time after its installation. If the owner fails to charge the tenant within a reasonable period of time after the installation, the owner waives the right to collect the charge."

This is the part that makes me so freakin' happy: When I first moved in, I wrote 10s of letters about the things that were never finished in the apartment, and begged them to call me to tell me if they would fix them, or wouldn't, so I could hire someone. They ignored me. However, the best part is, in those letters, I asked them to bill me for my air conditioner units installed in July 08. They ignored that too. I thought, wow, at least I'm getting some benefit from their total incompetence. However, this section of the DHCR regulations states that I now never have to pay them. To be sure, over a year would probably be unreasonable even if I never brought it to their attention, but it's 100% unreasonable since I begged them to bill me for it a year ago, and they refused. I haven't told them I'm not paying it yet, so we'll see how that goes. I'm guessing, not well.

As I mentioned in an earlier post:

"NY Property Law requires renewal leases to be sent to stabilized tenants no more than 150 days before expiration and no less than 90 days before expiration. They sent ours 84 days from expiration. The penalty/remedy for this is that the old rental rate will be in effect for all rent due dates occurring prior to 90 days from the mailing date. In other words, July 1st, which will be my first rental payment under the new lease will be on the old scale, and not the new one."


I told them that I was not going to pay the extra 98.64 for July. They called me in mid-july to tell me I had to. They claimed they replied to my letter, but I got nothing. I'd like it noted that when they go to evict someone they slide the information under the door, along with mailing it, but when it's any other issue, they just hope you find out what they said. Anyway, maybe they replied maybe they didn't. Management offered to send evidence of a timely renewal lease. I said ok. However, 1 month later, no evidence, no tenant copy of the lease, and no copy of this alleged reply. I called 6 times, and left 6 messages, politely asking when I could expect this, and they did not return my call once.

I try my hardest to be as pleasant is possible, and all I've ever asked of these people is to RETURN A PHONE CALL. They seem wholly unable to do such.

New A/C fee... $374.31

Taking a poll... who has been charged this fee?
Did you get a letter about photos being taken like we did last summer?
If you have more than one unit, did you get charged for each, or just one?

Rent Increase Alert! Rent Decrease Alert!

So, as mentioned earlier, the increased rental numbers are back up on the website (www.flatbushgardens.net).

However, I have a rent decrease alert for . . . EVERYWHERE ELSE! (duh, right?)

I was looking around craigslist, and quality units are available in the most desirable places for 1600-1800. Ok, yes, $500-$700 is A LOT of money, but come on. There has to be at least a few people who think prime rib at $1700 is better than lipstick on a pig for $1100. Thus, I am hoping that this pressures FBG in reverting back to the old scale, or somewhere in between. Heck, maybe I'll move to the fancy borough and someone else can ramble here about their gussied up pig of an apartment.

Rent Increase Alert! un-retracted (tracted?)

As the commenter mentioned in the prior post, the site is back to the new higher scale.

Rent increase ALERT - retracted! (maybe?)

Just popping onto flatbushgardens.net to see if any changes were made.
I noticed the rent scale is back down to what it was when I moved in.
Perhaps the new scale reported earlier (http://flatbushnyc.blogspot.com/2008/12/rent-increase-alert.html) was a mistake, or perhaps more likely, they couldn't move enough units at the new prices. No idea, but as of now, the rent scale is back to (875, 1025, 1200, and 1395).

Rent increase ALERT!

I don't know when it happened, but today I was looking at the website and the new rental scale for new tenants is:
$900 - Studio (2.9% increase)
$1100 - 1 Bed (7.3% increase)
$1350 - 2 Bed (12.5% increase)
$1550 - 3 Bed (Though I don't believe these actually exist). (11.1%)

Several things of note:
1. Should have signed a 2 year lease, as I plan on staying at least another year.
2. There is a pretty significant % disparity in the above.

3. My first reaction is: 12.5% in this economy!?! Are you kidding?!? But then I realize, it's probably this economy that is driving even more people out of Manhattan and into Flatbush Gardens.

Seems like a lot.

http://flatbushgardens.net/ (see the "apply now" tab for numbers)