Waaaay back in 2005 East Villagers and New Yorkers alike were horrified to learn that not only were Catherine and Alistair Economakis planning to evict all the tenants in their apartment building at 47 East Third Street in order to create an 11,575 square foot mansion, but that they got away with it, too for a mere $75,000. Fast-forward six years and it is happening again. But this time it is in the district of City Council Speaker and Mayoral hopeful Christine Quinn, so naturally SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. more ›

In a narrow 5-4 vote at Cooper Union last night, the NYC Rent Guidelines Board approved big potential rent increases on the city's million rent-regulated apartments. Though the final vote isn't until June 27th, last night's vote set the range of rent hikes somewhere between 3 percent and 5.75 percent for one year leases. The board also approved a 6.5 to 9 percent hike on two-year leases, and a 1 percent heating fuel surcharge. This would be the largest increase since 2008. As always, there was outraged howling from rent-regulated tenants and politicians. more ›

Way back in the rosy-colored days of 2009, tenants of Stuy Town and Peter Cooper village rejoiced after a the Court of Appeals ruled that their landlords illegally raised rents on 4,400 formerly rent-stabilized apartments while simultaneously collecting city tax breaks. But how would the poor landlords get out from under the steel-toed boot of "the law" so they could once again nobly raise rent, for capitalism? Easy! Just "empty [your] piggy bank" into a legislator's piggy bank and voila! A law is born! more ›

Last month we said it was time to talk about rent control, and now things are starting to get serious. Sheldon Silver and the Assembly Democrats yesterday fired the first shot in what could be an epic battle for the fate of rent control in New York State. The current rent regulations expire on June 15. more ›

Like payphones, the Dodo and green benches, rent controlled apartments are disappearing, and people don't know how to deal. There are now fewer than 40,000 rent controlled apartments in NYC, a decrease of more than 20 percent over the last decade, and more than 60 percent in the last 20 years. Unlike rent stablized apartments, rent control refers to residential buildings constructed before February 1947; tenants (or their lawful successor) must have lived in their apartment continuously since before July 1, 1971, which means most of the tenants are the elderly. more ›

Residents of a rent-controlled SoHo building are facing monthly spending increases of up to 800 percent. "Our lowest rent now is $80, and the highest $403," one tenant at 63 Thompson St. told the Post. "They'll go up to $800 for studios, and $1,098 for one-bedrooms.” The rent hikes come thanks to a deal between the government and The Phipps Housing Center, that will take over the five-story property for $1. While it renovates, the nonprofit will relocate the building's tenants; some say they won’t be able to afford the vastly increased rental price when they return. more ›

Upper West Side landlords were caught in a lie when they tried to evict rent-stabilized tenants on the grounds that they needed the rental property for their own family. Every other resident in the brownstone on West 92nd had been pushed out, except for Beverly West (author of Pug Therapy) and her husband, reports the Post. The landlords, who bought the property in 2005, said they'd need the whole building for their daughter and unborn grandchildren, but the six new buzzers and mail boxes they installed suggested otherwise. The couple sued, and in an unusual decision, the judge ruled in favor of the low-paying tenants: "I do not believe that [the landlords] intend to occupy the entire building. The evidence simply does not support this claim," she wrote. more ›

A fancy Upper East Side girls’ school is mad a two grandmas, who it says are standing in the way of its expansion to a neighboring building. Both older women live in cheap rent-controlled apartments in 28 E. 92nd Street, and have for forty years. Nightingale-Bamford wants them out, and the women’s lawyer says it’s using mean girl tactics. "They are harassing two elderly women and trying to drive them out of their homes," said David Rozenholc. "I really believe they're heartless. They knew these elderly people lived there when they bought the building. I think it's terrible." more ›

Yesterday morning, a 42-year-old taxi dispatcher was fatally shot outside his apartment building on Decatur Avenue near East 207th Street. Police say that Michael Lorge was shot twice in the back of his head and his wallet was not taken. more ›

Move over Crazy Cat Ladies of New York, a West End Avenue tenant may just have you beat. The Post reports that court papers have been filed by a building owner against 71-year-old tenant Jacqueline Bartone, calling her apartment a "zoo" and listing the pets that reside with her -- including three dogs, several reptiles and cats, "and as many as a dozen birds, including an African Grey parrot and a macaw parrot." more ›