QUESTION
Can a landlord raise the rent after my application has been approved but before I sign a lease?
Asked on Jul 20th, 2013 on Landlord and Tenant Law - New York
More details to this question:
I'm looking for an apartment with my boyfriend in New York City. We are both full time students with guarantors. We found an apartment advertised on a public forum for 1600. We went to see it, the broker confirmed that it was 1600. I put a 1600 dollar deposit down and we submitted our application. Yesterday, the broker called to say that our application was approved, but now the landlord wants 1700. We haven't yet signed a lease. Is this legal? Can I demand a 1600 dollar lease (as that was the publicly advertised price, confirmed by the broker)? The building is rent stabilized. I know the rent will go up at the end of the year, and I just can't afford it if it's not 1600.
1 ANSWER
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If the landlord now wants to make the rent $1,700, then there is no deal, and you have no obligation to go forward at $1,700. However, it will be difficult to 'force' the landlord to proceed with the $1,600. Your best bet would be to retrieve your deposit and find another place.
Gerry Wendrovsky, Esq.- Upper West Side Tenant Lawyer
www.upperwestsidelawyer.com
Answered on Jul 25th, 2013 at 2:15 PM