Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New York
Fraud lease of Rent Stabilized APT
I have two questions.
1) I used to live in rent stabilzed building without knowing it. because my lease that I and my landlord signed on said that it was not a rent stablized buliding. But after I moved in I got a letter from DHDC ofNYC and it said that my rent was supposed to be 100$ less than I was actually paying. SO i called my landlord and asked if I had to cal DHDC office. But he said iit was fine and must be DHDC's mistake. but I checked when i moved out that building and it was rent stabilized building. Basically it turned out that I signed on a fake lease. but THere was my name on the letter that received from DHDC. What should I do?
2) when I got that APT I hired realtor and paid fee based on my 1yr rent. andI asked him if it was a rent stablized building but he said no. at that time i just came to USA and had to start my master's degree in NYC. so I was new here and in a hurry. that's why I hired the realtor and paid expensive fee. is there any unlawful about the realtor? I think they just used me because I'm a foreigner with no American citizenship. can I sue them?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Fraud lease of Rent Stabilized APT
You can sue both for reimbursement of part of the rent and part of the realty fee.. If the sum is less than $3,000 sue in Small Claims Court. Good luck. I used to practice law in NY & now practice in South Florida.
Re: Fraud lease of Rent Stabilized APT
If the apartment was rent stabilized, you may have a claim against the landlord for the amount that was overcharged and for treble damages (triple the amount of money that you overpaid).