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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Please click on your question
below to view the Answer:
1) What do I do if I have a problem in my apartment or in my building?
The first step is to contact R.E. Management. The best method of contact is to send an email. The other method of contact is our tenant hotline. In either case please leave a detailed message with your name, address, contact information, and any problems you may have. Please understand that our hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Any repairs that may need to be done in your apartment will have to be scheduled within this time frame. If someone cannot be home during these hours you can leave a key with either the building superintendent or with us at the office. Please DO NOT CONTACT Vertical City Realty with your complaints or problems. They are an apartment rental agency, not a management company.
2) I have emailed or phoned in a complaint on one or more occasions. Why haven’t I gotten a response?
Each complaint is dealt with on a case by case basis. Some are more complex than others. Emails will get the quickest response. If you are going to call the tenant hotline please leave a message that is brief and to the point. This makes it a lot easier to follow up on the situation. In certain cases we must contact professionals to set up appointments and make the repairs. We try to deal with complaints as rapidly as possible, but we need you to cooperate with us in order to make the process move smoothly. First of all, when you file your complaint, be sure to clearly leave your name, address, complaint, and contact information. If everything is left clearly we will contact the necessary parties and you should receive a prompt response. If repairs are necessary we will need to set up an appointment to gain access to your apartment. Appointments will be made between the hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. If you cannot be available during these hours you can leave a copy of your key with your super or with us at the office. We will not keep this copy of your key. It will be returned once the repairs are completed.
3) What do I do if there is an emergency during non-business hours?
Call 911 and then contact your building superintendent. You can find their number posted in your lobby. If it is a problem that the super cannot deal with immediately you can contact us via email or on the tenant hotline, both of which are monitored at night and on the weekends. If you do not have your super’s number you can email us and we will give it to you.
4) What do I do if I see any illegal activity occurring?
The first step is to contact the police immediately to report what you have witnessed. Once you have reported to the authorities please contact us via email or on the tenant hotline to let us know what is going on.
5) I missed an appointment that was scheduled to take care of repairs or the repairman did not show up during the scheduled time. What do I do?
First of all, please do not set up an appointment unless you know that you can definitely be at home during that time. In the case that you may, for some reason, miss an appointment or a repairman doesn’t show please contact us via email or on our tenant hotline as soon as possible. We need to know about these things promptly in order to set up a new appointment and get the problem taken care of.
6) How do I pay my rent?
Rent payments must be paid by MAIL ONLY. It can be sent to our address, which can be found above. Rent is due BEFORE the 1st of each month. A late fee will be charged if your rent is late. We review post office stampings to determine the mailing date. Please send your rent payment in a timely fashion so that it will arrive at our office before the late payment date stated on your lease.
7) Why can’t I bring my rent to the office?
Rent cannot be brought to the office for security purposes. This also enables our staff to operate in a more efficient manner.
8) How do I get a copy of my lease?
Once you have moved into your apartment the owner must sign your lease. The length of time may vary. If you would like a copy of your lease and feel that you have not received it in a timely manner please request a copy either via email or our tenant hotline. Please include your name, address, and move in date and we will do our best to get the lease signed and mailed to you as soon as possible.
9) I received a “Preferential Rent Rider” with my lease renewal, what does this mean?
Do not be surprised if the amount of rent on your lease renewal is a lot higher than your previous rent. This is not necessarily your actual rent. With all rent stabilized apartments in New York City there is something called a “legal rent”. This is the rent that the owner of the building has filed on record with the State and is the maximum amount of rent the owner can charge for this apartment. The “preferential rent” is a lower rent that the owner has decided to charge you. By signing both the lease renewal and the preferential rent rider you are agreeing to pay the lower, preferential rent. The preferential rent may not apply to subsequent lease periods.
10) My lease is going to expire soon and I am ready to move out of my apartment. What is the process I must follow?
If you plan on moving out by the end of your current lease term you must sign the section of your lease renewal stating that you will not be renewing your lease. You must give the owner thirty days notice prior to moving out of your apartment. You may give this notice by signing that portion of the lease renewal or by sending a letter to R.E. Management giving notification. If you do not intend to extend your lease and you are going to move out, you must email or call us to set up an appointment to come to our office. Please contact us to set up a move out appointment at least two weeks prior to the expiration of your lease. You must move out of your apartment on or before the day your lease expires. If you do not move out by this date you will be responsible for all subsequent charges. On the day of your move out appointment you must do five things:
1) You must clear up any balance you have with R.E. Management. 2) You must give us all copies of building entry, apartment, and mailbox keys. 3) You must sign a “move out sheet” which will be written proof of your move. 4) You must leave a forwarding address to which any security deposit can be returned. We cannot return any deposits if we do not have a forwarding address. 5) You must make sure your apartment is returned in the same condition as it was delivered to you. Any damages beyond normal “wear and tear” will be billed to you. Make sure you do not leave any belongings in the apartment. You will be charged for removal of anything that is left. Also, make sure all walls are painted the same color (white) as when you moved in. You will be charged for repainting if they are not.
11) Am I allowed to sublet my apartment?
It is illegal to sublet your apartment without written consent by the owner. If you illegally sublet the apartment YOU, not the subletter, will be fully responsible for all payments on the apartment. Please do not attempt to illegally sublet, as it can end up in a very bad situation for you. If you would like to prematurely terminate your lease in the proper manner please refer to the following question.
12) How do I go about terminating my lease before it expires?
Any tenant who is looking to prematurely terminate a lease agreement must comply with several regulations. First, and foremost, the current tenant must clear up any existing balance with R.E. Management. Upon clearing the balance the next step is to find a new qualified tenant to start a new lease on the subject apartment. The first step in finding a new tenant is to contact Vertical City Realty at (212) 289-9600. They will go through the whole procedure with you. You can advertise and show the apartment by yourself or Vertical City Realty will advertise and show it for you. If you go with the first option the best way to proceed is to advertise for free on Craig’s List as a “no fee” apartment. In general, there will be an increase in rent for the new tenant, which can be obtained by Vertical City Realty. In this case the current tenant would pay a $300 fee to Vertical City Realty to handle all of the paperwork. The other option will be more expensive. If you would like Vertical City Realty to advertise and show the apartment for you they will do it for a full broker’s fee. Once a new tenant is found they must fill out an application, which may be obtained from Vertical City Realty. Along with the application the applicant must include a copy of a photo ID, a copy of a social security card, proof of income (3 recent pay stubs, letter of employment, W2 from previous year, etc.), and $60 per applicant for a credit check (cash or money order only). Upon clearing any balance, approval of an applicant, and the beginning of a new lease agreement, the current tenant will be released from his/her lease agreement. The current tenant is responsible for all payments on the apartment until the day the next tenant moves in or until the expiration of their lease. Any questions regarding return of security deposits please refer to #14 below.
13) My lease is going to expire soon, but I would like to extend it for less than a year. What can I do?
Generally speaking, we do not extend leases for less than a one year period. However, on a case by case basis, we may grant a one month extension. If you would like to get a one month extension please contact us either via email or on our tenant hotline. Please include your name, address, contact information. You will have to pay the increased rent for the extension period. If an extension is granted and you stay in the apartment longer than agreed and/or do not follow the proper move-out procedure as set forth in question #8 you will be held to a full year lease term at a higher rent set by the owner.
14) How do I get my security deposit back?
Upon moving out of your apartment you must leave a forwarding address with R.E. Management. After you move out one of our building supervisors will inspect the apartment. Pictures and notes are taken before you move in and after you move out. Assuming there is no damage to the apartment and there is no balance due to the owner, you will get your security deposit back. The deposit will be mailed to the forwarding address you left with us.
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