Scaffolding blocking the sun at my window!

You can certainly ask for a discount but you don't have any 'rights' to one. Facade work is required on buildings throughout the city and scaffolds are a necessary evil of that requirement. Your landlord does not owe you for what you perceive as an inconvenience; a scaffold outside the window does not affect the unit's habitability.

By the way, expect that 3-4 months to stretch to 6-8 or even more.

Consider it a blessing that it happened before your renewal. It seems like you're going to miss getting light for the next prime 6 light-rich months. I personally feel a discount of 20% is in order for as long the scaffolding is up. Without that, I'd walk. I'd also make sure to have it specified for the duration of the scaffolding, not just the fixed 3-4 months.

Correction: I'd walk regardless life is to short for me to live in such a setup 3-8 months as compared to the money. I'd require a 20% discount if I cared about the money.

Scaffold in my old coop was up for almost 2 years. You work all day anyway. You'll hardly notice. But still, I'd try to push back on the rent increase.

Huh, KW? Were your windows below the scaffolding as is the case here?

I work, but I enjoy the light in my apt every day in the morning before I go to work, half the year when I come back, and all day durin the weekend. Heck, I even enjoy what's out window at night. Lord knows I'm paying for it. If someone stuck a 15' deep platform above all my windows, I'd certainly notice & change apts.

It's true that scaffolding projects can go on forever. In my old building, scaffolding went up three weeks after we moved in, and we were told it would be up for six months. It's still there, four years later. If you're in a smaller building, though, it's probably true that scaffolding will be up for a much shorter amount of time. (I am hoping you're not my neighbor since scaffolding just went up on my building this week. ;-))

I think you can probably get the landlord to agree not to increase your rent. Anything more than that is going to be a tough sell. The scaffolding is there by city mandate for your and everyone's safety, and to facilitate repairs that will improve the quality of your building. If you can't get a discount, I guess you have to weigh the cost, expense, and hassle of moving v. living without light for a few months. Unless you have few possessions and can find a rental that exactly aligns with when you need to move out, I think staying put and dealing with the scaffolding will be the cheaper and saner option.

Thank you all for your advice. I am going to ask for a discount but I feel like I need to move. Having only one window in the apartment was hard enough, and having to deal with no sunlight at all just seems to much to deal with.
Thanks again!

"I think you can probably get the landlord to agree not to increase your rent. Anything more than that is going to be a tough sell."

You know what's a tough sell? Finding a tenant to take a first-floor apt where the only window is covered by scaffolding that just went up.

Let's say this is a studio from the sounds of it. I have no idea where it's located, but let's call the rent $1800 a month. The inonada 20% discount works out to $360 a month. That's about $4000 a year. Professional movers would do packing, moving, and unpacking for a third of that amount.

Also, when scaffolding is up for 4 years, it seems to me that the requisite repairs are probably not being made.

Its called Local Law 11 theres nothing you can deal with it it happens to every building

I'd much rather have Local Law 11 complied with (and the accompanying scaffolding) than have bricks falling out of my building due to water damage.

greennyc: "I was about to renew my lease"

inonada: "You know what's a tough sell? Finding a tenant to take a first-floor apt where the only window is covered by scaffolding that just went up."

Sounds like a perfect negotiation opportunity.

Sunday
about 1 hour ago
ignore this person
report abuse greennyc: "I was about to renew my lease"

inonada: "You know what's a tough sell? Finding a tenant to take a first-floor apt where the only window is covered by scaffolding that just went up."

Sounds like a perfect negotiation opportunity.

An even better opportunity to find youself out of an apartment and paying near record high market rents.

Rights? None. Time to negotiate or move on. Scaffolding will probably be up this time next year.

Riddle me this one, hones:

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/rental/737370-condo-165-charles-street-west-village-new-york?email=true

Went for $27K in April 2009. Went on the market Nov 2010 for $25K, now at $23K, still no takers after 7 months. I know they never let you into those types of places, but you're a bad-ass, explain it to me.

Free jim_hones10

25K thousand dollar comps to a first floor coop studio? You're a fucking knucklehead.

"An even better opportunity to find youself out of an apartment and paying near record high market rents."

Talk about propaganda. From Miller Samuel:

Year Quarter Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4+ Bedroom All
2011 1 2,269 3,008 4,644 7,485 12,321 3,445
2010 4 2,319 3,069 4,722 7,558 12,941 3,499
2010 3 2,306 3,053 4,414 6,851 9,903 3,460
2010 2 2,268 3,159 4,945 8,024 10,290 3,710
2010 1 2,417 3,094 5,021 8,653 12,197 3,812
2009 4 2,253 3,026 5,228 7,515 12,749 3,789
2009 3 2,252 3,026 5,048 7,603 12,925 3,759
2009 2 2,304 2,874 5,018 8,849 15,430 3,839
2009 1 2,221 3,200 5,375 8,760 15,670 4,142
2008 4 2,294 3,245 5,257 9,378 18,825 3,958
2008 3 2,441 3,344 5,139 8,676 26,172 3,796
2008 2 2,449 3,311 5,250 9,564 16,814 3,806
2008 1 2,388 3,281 5,297 9,287 27,461 3,850
2007 4 2,315 3,303 5,272 7,846 13,527 3,801
2007 3 2,282 3,308 5,122 8,035 12,378 3,757
2007 2 2,257 3,313 4,895 8,016 13,655 3,704
2007 1 2,261 3,276 5,116 8,209 17,183 3,762

On a nominal basis, even studio rents would have to climb 8% to reach record highs. Inflation-adjusted, it'd take 13%. Apparently, you must be paying record-high rent yourself. For a broker to be doing that when the market isn't, what a loser.

Jawohl Herr Goebbels.

No unlike the "proof" that those that of Slavic decent are subhuman because of the shape of their skulls, right dr?

Speak to him in terms he understands Inonada.

-your two pounds of collared greens you paid in 2007 with plowing 20 acres of corn, you'd have to plow 24 acres to get the same in 2011.... And don't forget to bend over for the foreman when you're done.- it's what you do in that part of the country, no?

I lived for two years with scaffold and it was awful because dog pee smell was horrible and the scaffold didn't let any air come through. the bldg. tried to wash it down often but it never helped. When I approached the LL about a rental decrease they agreed.

Yes massah!

Jowohl mein heir!

2011 1 2,269 3,008 4,644 7,485 12,321 3,445
2010 4 2,319 3,069 4,722 7,558 12,941 3,499
2010 3 2,306 3,053 4,414 6,851 9,903 3,460
2010 2 2,268 3,159 4,945 8,024 10,290 3,710
2010 1 2,417 3,094 5,021 8,653 12,197 3,812
2009 4 2,253 3,026 5,228 7,515 12,749 3,789
2009 3 2,252 3,026 5,048 7,603 12,925 3,759
2009 2 2,304 2,874 5,018 8,849 15,430 3,839
2009 1 2,221 3,200 5,375 8,760 15,670 4,142
2008 4 2,294 3,245 5,257 9,378 18,825 3,958
2008 3 2,441 3,344 5,139 8,676 26,172 3,796
2008 2 2,449 3,311 5,250 9,564 16,814 3,806
2008 1 2,388 3,281 5,297 9,287 27,461 3,850
2007 4 2,315 3,303 5,272 7,846 13,527 3,801
2007 3 2,282 3,308 5,122 8,035 12,378 3,757
2007 2 2,257 3,313 4,895 8,016 13,655 3,704
2007 1 2,261 3,276 5,116 8,209 17,183 3,762

paging Rain Man, please decode this sequence of numbers.

>Riddle me this one, hones:
http://streeteasy.com/nyc/rental/737370-condo-165-charles-street-west-village-new-york?email=true
Went for $27K in April 2009. Went on the market Nov 2010 for $25K, now at $23K, still no takers after 7 months. I know they never let you into those types of places, but you're a bad-ass, explain it to me.

Are you serious? The OP is asking about her ground floor rental in a 5 story co-op, that YOU have estimated is going for about $1800 per month. Yet, your rebuttal to Jim Hones is an apartment that is seeking $23,000 per month? $23,000 exceeds the annual rent on the apartment that is the subject of this whole discussion.

>julia
about 1 hour ago
I lived for two years with scaffold and it was awful because dog pee smell was horrible and the scaffold didn't let any air come through. the bldg. tried to wash it down often but it never helped. When I approached the LL about a rental decrease they agreed.

Julia, I have got to say to you, Bravo! You continue to be the best fake character on streeteasy. On this thread, you lived under a scaffold for 2 years.

On this other thread, also today: http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/27235-renters-insurance-with-liability-only
You were recently robbed of your jewelry.
>i did a very stupid thing...i was leaving for work when my super knocked and said two workmen (outside conractors) needed to go into my wall to fix a pipe..I explained I was leaving but they said it was an emergency and I left them there...I didn't notice anything missing for several weeks until I went to put on some jewelry I rarely wore and the case was there but the inside had nothing left.

This tragedy you've developed is amazing! Bravo!

My husband and I recently renewed our rent in April. We were JUST told today that our building's facade is going to be restored, and the scaffolding will be up by TOMORROW. Had we known this work was going to take place, we would have made a different decision about renewing our lease. They tell us that the scaffolds will be up for at least 7 months (obviously it will be longer). No wonder they only increased the rent by $200. Even still, I think the increase was unfair, and I want to demand a refund. I understand the building needs to be restored for safety reasons, I just wish we were notified before: 1) paying MORE rent and 2) deciding to live in the building for another year. The only windows we have in the apartment are in the facade of the building. We will now be void of any natural light or air to be let in.

Depends if you ever called 311 on your landlord, if you did its NO discounts for you!!!

My landlord did not really negotiate and only is okay with not raising the rent until the scaffolding is down. I asked him if I can do month-to-month until it comes down, and he does not think the co-op board would approve.

What are you planning to do?

inonada
about 2 weeks ago
ignore this person
report abuse Riddle me this one, hones:

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/rental/737370-condo-165-charles-street-west-village-new-york?email=true

Went for $27K in April 2009. Went on the market Nov 2010 for $25K, now at $23K, still no takers after 7 months. I know they never let you into those types of places, but you're a bad-ass, explain it to

inonada
about 2 weeks ago
ignore this person
report abuse "An even better opportunity to find youself out of an apartment and paying near record high market rents."

Talk about propaganda. From Miller Samuel:

Year Quarter Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4+ Bedroom All
2011 1 2,269 3,008 4,644 7,485 12,321 3,445
2010 4 2,319 3,069 4,722 7,558 12,941 3,499
2010 3 2,306 3,053 4,414 6,851 9,903 3,460
2010 2 2,268 3,159 4,945 8,024 10,290 3,710
2010 1 2,417 3,094 5,021 8,653 12,197 3,812
2009 4 2,253 3,026 5,228 7,515 12,749 3,789
2009 3 2,252 3,026 5,048 7,603 12,925 3,759
2009 2 2,304 2,874 5,018 8,849 15,430 3,839
2009 1 2,221 3,200 5,375 8,760 15,670 4,142
2008 4 2,294 3,245 5,257 9,378 18,825 3,958
2008 3 2,441 3,344 5,139 8,676 26,172 3,796
2008 2 2,449 3,311 5,250 9,564 16,814 3,806
2008 1 2,388 3,281 5,297 9,287 27,461 3,850
2007 4 2,315 3,303 5,272 7,846 13,527 3,801
2007 3 2,282 3,308 5,122 8,035 12,378 3,757
2007 2 2,257 3,313 4,895 8,016 13,655 3,704
2007 1 2,261 3,276 5,116 8,209 17,183 3,762

On a nominal basis, even studio rents would have to climb 8% to reach record highs. Inflation-adjusted, it'd take 13%. Apparently, you must be paying record-high rent yourself. For a broker to be doing that when the market isn't, what a loser.

So neither of the two above posts really helped at all huh? Nada, so much for your advice and statistic throwing.

"My landlord did not really negotiate and only is okay with not raising the rent until the scaffolding is down. I asked him if I can do month-to-month until it comes down, and he does not think the co-op board would approve."

Pardon the forthcoming foul language & gender-specific analogies. Did you go into the negotiations with just your d--k in your hands, or did you go in with other options? It sounds like you did the former, got sniffed out easy, and have been dealt with accordingly.

I'm not in the market at the moment, but here are some words from someone actually in the biz from another thread:

"tm2mc
2 days ago
ignore this person
report abuse

Noah - I love your site. Here is my market observation. I work for a major NYC developer. We are in constant contact with other landlords and the major brokerage houses. In the last 6 weeks, sales have been dead. And it's more than just seasonal. And the rental market has been very slow for this time of year for the last 3 weeks. Strangely enough, rentals were actually stronger in the late winter and spring than they are now. I can't help but think this is because the major investment banks have announced possible layoffs."

rayrams - you have less than zero hand. deal. unless you have this spectack vista with some Park or river view, you're seeing some narrow arz numbered street or slightly less narrow Avenue. You'll still have the polluted air, just not the limited light.

nada, no painfully fucking boring math? you are no reduced to finding threads from others to support your behind the curve bullshit?

no streetsmarts, no saavy

>Pardon the forthcoming foul language & gender-specific analogies. Did you go into the negotiations with just your d--k in your hands, or did you go in with other options? It sounds like you did the former, got sniffed out easy, and have been dealt with accordingly.

Give me a break. Taking verbal abuse from a guy who can't even negotiate a 2nd year of a lease upfront with zero increase? What a pussy. greennyc, definitely take advice from a guy who talks about your $1800 / month rental (estimate) and uses for comparison a $23,000/month rental.