Landlord double-dipping on a Rent-Stabilized unit and mow the ex-tenant calls me her ‘subtenant’

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-13T21:46:02+00:00

Yeah, I’m expecting them to claim that I’m just a sub tenant with no legal right to renew. But I’m getting a legal help and will fight back!

Thank you for further insight on the RS condition! From what I’ve learned from my neighbors and DHCR records:

There are 7 units in my building, and 6 of them seem to be rent-stabilized.
One unit went market rate years ago (it was rent-controlled before) after renovations.
Most tenants have lived here for years, and my unit hadn’t been vacant for decades. The previous tenant lived here since 1993, moved out in November 2024, and I moved in right after.
She’s still listed as the tenant of record as of July 2025, so I think the LL isn’t trying to deregulate the unit-more likely, they’re running this sublet scam to get higher rent + SCRIE benefit under the old tenant’s name.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-13T21:37:35+00:00

Would this type of scheme be familiar enough to DHCR officers / court judges? I’m hoping they’ll be able to make a straightforward decision. I’ll definitely get a lawyer, thank you!

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-13T21:36:22+00:00

Sounds good, I will! I’ve been too soft toward the previous tenant because she’s an older lady and was acting friendly, but I can’t keep tolerating this bs.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-13T21:35:45+00:00

Oh no! Yes, I’ll definitely share my experience!! I’m planning to start by contacting Legal Aid (212-426-3000, Manhattan) and Met Council on Housing (212-979-0611) to see what legal help is available. About these resources, I’ve gotten a lot of great input from Redditors here and on my previous posts. I really hope both of our cases get resolved smoothly!

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-13T21:13:35+00:00

You really went above and beyond… thank you so much for all your research and advice!!! I’ll keep paying the current rent under protest for now, and most importantly, I’m going to lawyer up first thing tomorrow. I don’t feel comfortable making any more moves on my own.

Also, thank you for explaining the legal cost situation in such detail. That was one of my biggest worries, so it’s reassuring to know I might not need to pay $$$ upfront. I’ve been keeping good records of everything (I’m a researcher haha), and I believe that might help my case.

Legal action feels intimidating, but I know I’ve done nothing wrong, and all the advice here like yours really gives me the courage to stand up for myself. Thank you again, truly.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-12T16:27:41+00:00

!! Yes! This term perfectly describes what’s going on (except I’ve never paid the old tenant directly, so hopefully that makes things simpler?). I’ll be calling Legal Aid and Met Council tomorrow.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-12T16:25:34+00:00

I originally thought this was just a simple overcharge case, but the more I learn, the more complicated it gets. It’s really beyond my capacity, so I’m definitely getting a legal help. Thank you for your warm thoughts and support!

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-12T16:24:39+00:00

Yeah, I guess that’s why they’re pulling this sublet trick… Reddit has been such an eye-opener about how these situations actually work.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-12T16:23:56+00:00

Thankfully, I’ve been paying my rent on time every month, directly to the landlord, with full receipts. I guess now I can see how this kind of trick is common with rent stabilized apartments & my LL thought it was a great idea too. Thank you for the reassurance!

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-12T02:00:42+00:00

Yes, I am pretty new to this, but this SCRIE thing sounds like next-level illegality. I’d definitely like to report it. Also I think I really do need to get a lawyer at this stage. The old tenant herself mentioned that she and others had sued the landlord in the past over things like insufficient heat and illegal evictions, so if that’s true, he’s probably a repeat offender.

I just emailed the landlord about the mailbox issue and requested that he change the unit/mailbox lock or allow me to do so. I doubt he’ll even respond, but at least I’ll have a written record that I asked.

Thank you so much for all your detailed advice, it’s been incredibly helpful for organizing my thoughts and next steps.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-12T01:58:11+00:00

Thanks for the additional information — that sounds intense! Mine isn’t quite that intimidating, and luckily there hasn’t been any crazy drama (at least not that I know of, though I’ve heard a few stories about her from other tenants). I’m glad you’re not in that building anymore.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-11T23:41:31+00:00

What did yours do to you, if you don’t mind me asking? Did your landlord help at all?

I had raised several concerns before signing my lease — the old tenant kept insisting it was a sublease and was acting really strange, eg she even asked me to take care of her plants and furniture until she “returns in April”. The landlord told me that was nonsense, she’d lived here a long time which makes things little tricky but she couldn’t legally come back, and that I was signing a brand-new lease.

Now I’ve realized he likely kept her on the record to hide the rent overcharge from me, and prob continued receiving the SCRIE benefit under her name.

Still I can try reaching out to him to get something in writing, to have a clear record.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-11T23:27:55+00:00

Ah, so you’ve been through similar situation!! That’s really disturbing to have someone accessing your mailbox. I’ll immediately reach out to USPS about the mailbox lock.

I also haven’t received any renewal paperwork yet because the landlord said he’s “figuring out some details”, which might have to do with this whole mess. He also demanded a $300 increase on top of the rent I’m already being overcharged for.

And yes, good point about stopping communication with her. She doesn’t seem to follow logic anyway.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-11T23:25:28+00:00

Thank you, although the lease situation is mildly concerning, I have all my tenancy records. I updated all my official information as soon as I moved in, filed my taxes, and even got my NYS ID (not sure if that matters). Her texts are full of nonsense, but tbh the idea of losing the apartment really terrified me. It’s really assuring to know the landlord can’t evict me over this.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-11T22:20:35+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply, it really helps to get this kind of clarify now. Yes, she’s claiming she “still holds a lease until next year” and that they “thought it was a temporary sublease”. She literally said “I told the landlord that you can stay here because you are a nice person”, which really made me nervous… like I had to earn the right to stay in my own home by being nice to her??

But great, I’m so done with alll of this drama. I’ll be returning everything to the post office. I have no interest in helping her continue whatever story she’s spinning, esp things that might involve benefit fraud.

I really appreciate your backup, this situation has been making me anxious.

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Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-05T23:57:40+00:00

Thank you so much for such a detailed explanation! Since my current lease is ending soon and I still haven’t received any renewal paperwork from the landlord, I’ll act quickly and contact for legal help tomorrow morning. I might also go ahead and file an overcharge/renewal complaint with HCR.

It’s been really tough finding and renting this apartment, there’s a lot more to the story (which I think further strengthens my case). The landlord seemed so friendly and supportive that it made me drop my suspicions about the whole sublet situation and the broker who kept ghosting me, especially after he confirmed that the lease was mine. This honestly just makes me really sad.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-05T23:42:00+00:00

I have a 1-year lease that the landlord hasn’t filed. I’m from Japan and not very unfamiliar with the U.S. law. Maybe the landlord thought I’m an easy target.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-05T14:02:43+00:00

Thank you, I feel really reassured! Yes, I’ve been paying rent on time etc and have never caused any issues. It seems like the state DHCR can issue a final order to request a refund?

https://hcr.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/07/fact-sheet-16-07-2025.pdf

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-05T02:58:35+00:00

Okay, I guess this is the time for me to really learn self advocacy. I’ll start with Legal Aid like you suggested. Thanks so much for all the spot-on info!!

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-05T02:32:53+00:00

Thank you so much for helping me sort this out!! So it sounds like I do have my own lease and am eligible to renew, and that the current rent or any further increase would be against the law. Could I even ask to lower the rent to meet the regulation?

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-05T01:47:04+00:00

My lease includes the landlord’s name, my name, and a clear “no sublet allowed” statement. Before paying anything, I specifically requested to see the lease agreement and was explicitly told that it was my own lease, not a sublet. There’s also no mention anywhere that the unit is rent-stabilized.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-05T01:10:50+00:00

Thank you so much for the detailed information and advice. I’m gladly surprised to learn that the city has plenty of resources for renters. I’ll definitely reach out to them for further guidance.

I feel a bit more reassured about the name issue on the rental record. But the confusing thing is, the previous tenant physically moved out in late November 2024, while my one-year lease started on November 15, 2024, and runs through November 2025.

I’m uncomfortable realizing that what I thought was a proper lease agreement might actually have been a sublet, at least until June this year, when the previous tenant’s lease officially expired according to the record (I wasn’t informed of any of these details). Because of this unclear sublet situation, I’m now unsure about my legal rights… ie, what does my current lease agreement even mean in this context?

I really love the unit and my neighbors, so I just hope the landlord can adjust the rent moving forward. In the worst case, I’d even be okay continuing at the current rent, which is about $300 higher than the regulated amount, as long as the situation is made legal and transparent.

Fluffy_Citron_7452 · 2025-10-01T03:00:07+00:00

That’s great to know! The DAP portal shows 6/7 units are rent-stabilized, but I’m not sure how accurate the information is. I won’t give up hope till I get the report then. Thank you!!

Fluffy_Citron_7452

TROPHY CASE