Since the Hurricane Sandy Superstorm hit, many New York tenants are now asking themselves in they should still pay their rent. In total, more than eight million people in New York lost power to their homes and another one million had to be evacuated. So why would they have to pay their bills? As rent and mortgage payments are now becoming due, New York residents are asking are wondering if they should still pay for their cable, phone and utility bills when those amenities were not available to them during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. As of November there were still about 40,000 residents still displaced and many have lost their homes and cars entirely.
Out of 400 different New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings, there were nearly 80,000 people across the five boroughs that were severely impacted by the damage of the storm. These people were stuck in the dark with no heat or warm water and no cable or electricity. Many tenants who were on upper levels were also stuck there and unable to leave because the elevators in the building were not running. At first, the NYCHA was found leaving eviction notices on people's doors because they had failed to pay rent. The problem was that the tenants were not even there because most of the housing was inhabitable. Residents have since appealed these notices and the NYCHA has agreed to postpone any court actions for those impacted by the storm.
There is now word that the New York City Housing Authority may be giving rent credits to more than 35,000 families for all of the days that they did not receive heating and power services. As the NYCHA discusses reimbursing NYC tenants, many New Yorkers are still trying to settle down and get back in the swing of things. For tenants who were displaced or evicted their rights are a little more straightforward. If you are not able to live in the place you pay rent for, then you should not be held liable for paying for that space. As for many others, they are still facing the predicament of whether or not their rent will be reduced or if they will be compensated for their troubles.
The latest update available from the nyc.gov site is that the New York City Housing Authority has been able to restore their damaged buildings back and they now have full commercial power without the need of temporary generators. The NYCHA has been inspecting and cleaning all flooded and damaged housing and they encourage all residents to take advantages of their cleaning services. They are also offering child care services and help to get children to the nearby schools in the neighborhood. If you are still facing a dispute with your landlord over past due rent and you were affected by Hurricane Sandy, then do not hesitate to contact a New York landlord tenant attorney here at The Law Offices of Tamara I. Jordan, P.L.L.C.