Council bill would let tenants sue landlords over intimidation
By: Philip Newman
10/18/2007
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Tenant advocates report a rise in complaints of landlords harassing renters to drive them out of rent-stabilized apartments, but a law proposed in the City Council would enable renters to sue landlords for relief.
"For too long, tenants have been powerless against landlords who seek to pursue them illegally through threats, interruption of basic services and, increasingly, through frivolous court proceedings," said Councilman Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan).
"This bill gives them a fair chance to fight back - by using the power of the law to counter the tools of intimidation."Garodnik and Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) are co-sponsoring the bill.Council Speaker Christine Quinn hailed the proposed legislation, saying "if this bill is passed - and it will be - landlords can be fined from $1,000 to $5,000."Tenant advocates report what they say is a dramatic increase in recent years of landlord harassment of tenants as market rents keep rising and some landlords use non-legal methods to force out tenants who are paying controlled rents.
©Times Ledger 2007
By: Philip Newman
10/18/2007
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly
Tenant advocates report a rise in complaints of landlords harassing renters to drive them out of rent-stabilized apartments, but a law proposed in the City Council would enable renters to sue landlords for relief.
"For too long, tenants have been powerless against landlords who seek to pursue them illegally through threats, interruption of basic services and, increasingly, through frivolous court proceedings," said Councilman Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan).
"This bill gives them a fair chance to fight back - by using the power of the law to counter the tools of intimidation."Garodnik and Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) are co-sponsoring the bill.Council Speaker Christine Quinn hailed the proposed legislation, saying "if this bill is passed - and it will be - landlords can be fined from $1,000 to $5,000."Tenant advocates report what they say is a dramatic increase in recent years of landlord harassment of tenants as market rents keep rising and some landlords use non-legal methods to force out tenants who are paying controlled rents.
©Times Ledger 2007
3 comments:
I live in an Apt. bldg In Largo Florida with 250 Apts. And we are being billed by a 3rd party billing company threw the Management company here for water, sewer, srv.chrg.,storm water, refuse, and Tax.
With NO explanation of how we are being charged, nor how much we are being charged. My lease states I am to pay my service provider for these things. No place in my lease or in others does it state that these things are to be allocated. When I ask for details in billing methods to the 3rd party billing company I am told to contact my leasing office, when I contact my leasing office they claim they have no idea and that I need to contact the billing company. I have asked for disclosure on how I am being billed and the break down, I again am Told to contact my leasing office. My leasing office claims they don't have to disclose anything. But now those of us who have not paid the generic bills are being told by the leasing office IF we do not pay with in 7 days we will be evicted. We are told they will come into our apts. and shut off our water. I explained to the leasing office I just want a break down of how much I am paying and HOW they are coming up with the bills. And that my lease doesn't state this to be Allocated, I was personally told by the Manager that she makes the leases and she can break them. I personally have NOT paid this bill in a year because no one will give me any info. on how its billed. Yet I just renewed my lease last month with this Management company and they stated as of yesterday IF I don't pay ALL from last year till now I will be charged for 11 months of the lease agreement and Attorney fees and whatever else they decide to add to the top.
Someone PLEASE help us fight these people before we are all homeless. Some residents have been threatened for complaining. Some have only month to month leases now because the Management office says this way if they complain again they are out in the streets in 15 days notice. People that live in these Apts. are poor and they know we have no money to fight them, and they count on that! There is a very BIG fear of Retaliation here from just trying to get help.
Thank you in Advance, Tammy
I live in an Apt. bldg In Largo Florida with 250 Apts. And we are being billed by a 3rd party billing company threw the Management company here for water, sewer, srv.chrg.,storm water, refuse, and Tax.
With NO explanation of how we are being charged, nor how much we are being charged. My lease states I am to pay my service provider for these things. No place in my lease or in others does it state that these things are to be allocated. When I ask for details in billing methods to the 3rd party billing company I am told to contact my leasing office, when I contact my leasing office they claim they have no idea and that I need to contact the billing company. I have asked for disclosure on how I am being billed and the break down, I again am Told to contact my leasing office. My leasing office claims they don't have to disclose anything. But now those of us who have not paid the generic bills are being told by the leasing office IF we do not pay with in 7 days we will be evicted. We are told they will come into our apts. and shut off our water. I explained to the leasing office I just want a break down of how much I am paying and HOW they are coming up with the bills. And that my lease doesn't state this to be Allocated, I was personally told by the Manager that she makes the leases and she can break them. I personally have NOT paid this bill in a year because no one will give me any info. on how its billed. Yet I just renewed my lease last month with this Management company and they stated as of yesterday IF I don't pay ALL from last year till now I will be charged for 11 months of the lease agreement and Attorney fees and whatever else they decide to add to the top.
Someone PLEASE help us fight these people before we are all homeless. Some residents have been threatened for complaining. Some have only month to month leases now because the Management office says this way if they complain again they are out in the streets in 15 days notice. People that live in these Apts. are poor and they know we have no money to fight them, and they count on that! There is a very BIG fear of Retaliation here from just trying to get help.
Thank you in Advance, Tammy
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