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Questions Answered by Steven Warren Smollens
2 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: I have Tenant month - to month Agreement but she violated the Lease agreement can i move her out immd with in 30 days

i have also call police and complain and i have police report how to kick out tenant immd out

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Jan 28, 2025

Dear Commack Property Owner

There is no eviction without a court proceeding. Month to month tenancy does not require a fault ground for the eviction proceeding unless the owner is subject to the Good Cause Eviction Law.

Use a local lawyer familiar with your local District Court.

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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can a landlord void a lease if tenant passes away?

My mom who just passed away has been renting a rent stabilized apartment since the mid 70's. The apartment complex, originally rentals were converted to co-ops back in the 1980's with the option to buy. Mom continued to rent the apartment. Her existing lease will expire in June. (As she... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Jan 13, 2025

Dear Valley Stream Tenant:

Generally, there is a right of family member succession tenancy for Rent Stabilized tenancies. These are more complex when the remaining family member lives with a non-purchasing tenant after a cooperative conversion.

Generally, a lease, even a...
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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation and Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Should I list the governing agency on the summons and complaint? Should I add on to the complaint?

I am currently in litigation. The judge ordered leave to refile the motion to amend, denied the motion for summary judgment, and ordered that I accept the defendant's late answer. I filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against my now ex-landlord; they were not when I filed. Some points... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Jan 8, 2025

No. New York State (Department of State) is not a proper party. All New York domestic corporations and LLCs are registered with DOS. Amending a summons is far more complex than amending a complaint--although recent changes in the CPLR make amendments to complaints more difficult than before.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Landlord's cleaner took 5 days to take pic of wall hole they say I caused. Is their 5 day delay strong argument for me?
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Jan 8, 2025

Dear Manhattan Tenant:

A New York landlord has 14 days to present a former tenant with the written itemization of damages the landlord will charge against the tenant's security deposit and to refund the balance of the security deposit. A tenant has no right to return after moving out...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Management has not fixed water damage issue for past 4 years. I plan to leave without paying rent.

4 years of water damage in the bedroom, living room, and kitchen. They claim to fix it come and repaint for it to happen again the next time it rains. I was dealing with ants, mold, little bugs. In the bedroom, the corner ceiling is detached leading to inside the wall and the opening runs from wall... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Jan 8, 2025

Dear Brooklyn Tenant:

Moving out does not prevent the landlord from suing for unpaid rent, just as any ordinary creditor could sue, but the lawsuit is in the regular Civil Court, not the Housing Court, where tenants have all sorts of rights, including the right to an assigned attorney. Make...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: How may my wife take over our apartment lease if the current leaseholder isn’t renewing?

My brother is the current leaseholder of our Bronx residence. Due to prior financial difficulties, I have been subletting from him for over five years without formal authorization from the property owner, and this arrangement lacks written documentation. My wife and I have cohabited in the... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 30, 2024

Dear Bronx Tenant

Is this a Rent Stabilized apartment?

Does your brother also live in the same apartment with you and your wife?

If so, then your arrangement with your brother is not a sublease even if you pay rent to your brother.

If your brother is living in the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Im a lisensee at familys house been living there 10 plus years but they changed the door locks and i cant get in..
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 27, 2024

Dear Brooklyn Resident

Who defined your legal status as a Licensee?

If you are as you say then you may not have anti eviction protection like a tenant.

I wouldn't take your word for this.

Why not try to see if a Housing Court Judge in Kings County will...
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1 Answer | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can I sue my CAP housing program for denying me an emotional support animal even though I have a mental disability?

My therapist was doing paperwork for one but the housing told me if I get an ESA I will get kicked out

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 27, 2024

Dear Catskill CAP Housing Tenant

I do not know what the basic pet ownership rules are for your Housing. An ESA is not a service animal. NY State has certain anti discrimination rules relat

ing to ESA animal companions that are more expansive than the Federal Rules.

I...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: 5-day late rent notice is undeliverable via certified mail (NY) - what other options do I have?

My family law attorney told me to seek help regarding this particular matter- it's outside the area of her expertise.

My mother, father, and grandmother (maternal) lived together for the last 30-ish years. My mom passed 3 years ago, and my father still has not moved out. The house is... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 24, 2024

Dear Albany Family Member:

You hire an attorney for your grandmother who knows how to do eviction proceedings.

The only obligation created by the Legislation relating to the five day letter is that it is mailed by certified mail to the tenant. There is no further obligation....
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: I have a case hearing at housing court for non-payment of rent for certain months which I have proofe

The judge will dismiss my case since I have the proof of payment...but sincec i received the court notice, I stopped my rent payment from March, 2024...so my concern is whether the landlord or his attorney has the authority to request the judge right away to issue another notice of non-payment... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 22, 2024

Dear Brooklyn Tenant:

First things first. I gather that your initial court date is looming, and you filed the Answer to the nonpayment petition around March/April 2024.

Since the landlord's attorney decided not to offer to discontinue the case when you answered that you paid...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: My partner is dealing with a landlord issue & I have some questions.

I sleep over at my girlfriend's house sometimes. Her lease says nothing about having guests coming over & I've been visiting for over 3 years. Recently, her landlord had an issue with me sleeping over even when she's been aware I've been coming over for years. I primarily... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 11, 2024

Dear Brooklyn Tenant

I responded to your issue on another online forum.

Your girlfriend's landlord does not have a lease provision for restricted overnight guests or even a two week visit.

But your girlfriend resides in a jurisdiction that has not embraced Good Cause...
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2 Answers | Asked in Civil Rights and Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: I live in Brooklyn. My girlfriend lives in Long Island. I sleep over her house sometimes. Her landlord has an issue.

I sleep over my girlfriends sometimes. Her lease says nothing about having guests coming over & I've been visiting for over 3 years. Recently, her landlord had an issue with me sleeping over even when she's been aware I've been coming over for years. I primarily live in Brooklyn... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 10, 2024

Dear Brooklyn Tenant

If you moved in permanently as a Roommate the landlord has no legal basis to complain.

But even without the landlord having a just cause to complain about your visiting overnight from time to time your girlfriend is the one who has to deal with a landlord who...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can a subletter be forced to pay for a whole months rent if asked by main tenant to leave before month is up in NYC?

I sublet a room in an apartment in NYC. The sublease was meant to be for a year but the main tenant decided it was not working out and asked me to vacate within 30 days. That will place my last day of occupation part way through next month. Can they charge me for the full rent next month if rent is... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 7, 2024

Dear Manhattan Roommate.

You are not a subtenant if you rent a room only. I gather that you had a written agreement for one year.

If so a verbal request for you to move out in thirty days had no legal effect on the one year rental agreement.

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Legally what is the procedure to have a tenant of 10 yrs to leave the rental?
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 5, 2024

Dear Newburgh Property Owner:

What is the landlord's procedure for a tenant of 10 years to leave the rental?

It is far more difficult now than before your city adopted Good Cause Eviction....
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: I live in NYC. Is it legal to retroactively charge a resident an increased percentage?

My rent was never increased for years and now an arrears team is trying to clean up their financials and wants to retroactively charge me 3 years of increases. It is their personal error how can they be allowed to do that?

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 5, 2024

Dear Brooklyn Tenant:

Generally, no. Since you paid rent as billed by the landlord, you could raise it as a defense accord and satisfaction, payment, waiver, and other affirmative defenses if sued for the rent.

Meanwhile, I suggest you now show your documents to a lawyer for analysis.

Q: Can I use the grandfather clause against a new town ordinance?

Town Board passed new ordinance limiting type and quantity bird feeders a private homeowner can have, based on one address being harassed by one neighbor for four years. Even though we have complied with all DEC restrictions and suggestions. I need to fight this. I've had same bird feeders for... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 4, 2024

Dear Jamestown Home Owner:

It is not you alone. Many jurisdictions place restrictions on wildlife feeding.

https://dec.ny.gov/news/press-releases/2022/4/dec-issues-guidance-to-reduce-conflicts-with-bears#:~:text=...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Early lease termination / Lease break

Our rental lease ends June 2025 and we want to negotiate an early lease termination with our current landlord.

We want to move as my wife gave birth to multiples and with a toddler already the 2 bedroom is too small and challenging. I‘m afraid that postpartum my wife could be to stressed... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Oct 3, 2024

Dear Manhattan Tenant:

You avoided a colossal error. Since 2019, New York State tenants breaching a lease and leaving an apartment with money owed on a lease without a release from the landlord can sit back and wait for the landlord to rent the apartment again before even confronting the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Hello, me and my girlfriend need advice of how to handle this when we go to eviction court in a couple days ?

So they want $4,265 for the rent we have no paid, and for us to vacate the property. But the reason we have not been paying is because of us failing to get 2 carbon monoxide alarms they we still havent got for 6 months . And i have evidence of us asking them, our smoke alarms dont work, there is... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 15, 2024

Dear Troy Tenant:

It would help your defense based on breach of the statutory warranty of habitability and breach of lease (failure of the landlord to comply with rules, codes, and regulations affecting habitability) if you had Code Enforcement write the violations for no smoke and CO...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can you explain what a (421-a) and a (J-51) is. There is a rent lock situation going on and im trying to get them lifted
Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 6, 2024

Dear New York Apartment Building Investor:

This may surprise you, but there is no proper way to purchase an apartment building in NYC, let alone evaluate the property, without an attorney.

Both J-51 and 421-a are examples of long-term run 'with the land' real property tax...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for New York on
Q: Can my landlord tell me to leave a month before lease ends because of issues with them trying to sell the property?

Nov 1st 2023 I have a 1yr lease agreement on a house that my landlord is now trying to sell. May 30th 2024 landlord stated he found a buyer and signed with them but didnt have an official closing date but told us house will be closed sometime before the end June and we should be gone by July.... View More

Steven Warren Smollens
Steven Warren Smollens
answered on Sep 6, 2024

Dear Queens Tenant:

The truth is that unless the lease allows the landlord a right to early termination, you do not need to accommodate the owner's house sale. Even a properly ended lease in New York does not require the tenant to move out voluntarily. The tenant could wait it out and...
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