The Ultimate Apartment Renters Resource Guide

Renting an apartment on Long Island, Queens or Brooklyn can sometimes come with a bunch of rules and regulations that a first time, (even long time apartment renters) must become familiar with. Recognizing and understanding these “buzzwords” that your landlord or leasing agent will be tossing around during the renting process can really be helpful for you to know. So let’s bone-up on some of the most popular terms and tell you what they’ll mean to you.

Now you’re Speaking My Language!

Rent Control

Rent control limits the total amount of rent an owner may charge for an apartment.

Rent Stabilization

In New York City, apartments are generally under rent stabilization if they are in buildings of six or more units and sets maximum rates for annual rent increases.

Section 8

The Section 8 Housing Assistance Program is a rent subsidy program that assists eligible low-income, displaced, senior citizens or disabled persons to obtaining housing.

Lease and Learn!

Provisions

Leases must use words with common, everyday meanings and must be clear and coherent. Print must be large enough to be read easily.

Security Deposit

All leases require tenants to give their landlord a security deposit (typically one month’s rent). If a lease is renewed at a greater amount or the rent is increased during the term of the lease, the owner is allowed to collect additional money from the tenant in order to bring the security deposit up to the new monthly rent.

Habitability

Under the rules of habitability, tenants have the right to a livable, safe and sanitary apartment.

 Duty of Repair

Landlords of multiple dwellings must keep the apartments and the building’s public areas in “good repair” and clean and free of garbage or other offensive material.

Right to Privacy

Tenants have the right to privacy while within their apartments. Although a landlord may enter a tenant’s apartment with reasonable prior notice, at a reasonable time and with the tenant’s consent to provide routine or agreed upon repairs or services.

Other Leasing Language

Lease

A lease is a type of legal agreement establishing the property owner/tenant relationship. (Simple enough)

Arrears

Overdue rent.

Lessee

Tenant (Hey, that’s you!)

Lessor

Rental property owner (Hopefully, that’s us!)

Now that you’ve got yourself a quick education it’s time to get out there and find your dream apartment…a place you can truly call home! If you are interested in coming home to Heatherwood give us a call today at 631-234-1600 or visit our website or contact us here.