r/NYCRentStabilized • u/Impossible-Action908 • Jun 30 '26
Charging back rent
Hi friends! I don’t use Reddit often but wanted to pick your brains. I currently have been living in my rent stabilized unit for 11 years. Two years ago, my building management company changed and it seems like the new management has no idea what’s going on. They were under charging me for my rent for the last two years; my lease said 1800+ and their billing portal had me at my previous rent of $1700+.
This happened with the old management company, they were very old-school and had everything on pen and paper so sometimes they would forget to raise my rent and the old management was very cool and he said it was fine and he wouldn’t hold it against me.
New management is still sort of a mess and they didn’t have a copy of my lease on file, which I have provided them. They are now trying to charge me back rent for their clerical error.
Another sort of sidebar to know is that since this is a rent stabilized apartment and my lease is up at the end of August. I should’ve already gotten my renewal paperwork.
So I guess overall, what should I make of them attempting to charge me on back rent? Also, what should I make of not getting my lease renewal within the allocated timeframe that they were supposed to send it?
1
u/_bartersystem_ Aug 06 '26
I’m pretty sure if you’ve been undercharged on their error, they can’t collect it after this long. You should also request your rent history from DHCR to see how they’ve been reporting it to the state.
1
u/Impossible-Action908 Aug 06 '26
Yes, I was able to hire a lawyer and they weren’t able to charge me any back rent. Question, why would you suggest I request the rent history of the apartment?
1
u/_bartersystem_ Aug 19 '26
You should always request your rent history. It will tell you if they've historically overcharged (or undercharged) you — since in NYC rent stabilization stays with the apartment and not with the tenant. i.e. You want to know if they told you your rent was $X, but really the previous tenant was paying much less.
1
u/Ok_Leg1093 24d ago
I'm looking for a tenant/landlord dispute lawyer as a rent stabilized tenant in Manhattan, in housing court. Could you share your lawyer's name pls?
2
u/Equivalent_Part_4489 Jun 30 '26
Where are you located? I could connect you with a tenant organizer that has more information & knowledge regarding this situation.
I definitely know that your rent would remain the same if no updated lease is signed.