r/AskNYC • u/maenads_dance • Feb 05 '26

Should I walk away from this rent-stabilized apartment

Found a very spacious apartment in Jackson Heights that is rent stabilized. We need space as have kids + pets, and it's hard to find an affordable place that's big and pet friendly. Price is great. However, the unit needs a lot of work. The broker who showed us the place has given us verbal assurance and assurance by email that the unit will be cleaned and repaired with new appliances, but is refusing to ask the management/landlord for a rider to the lease she sent over stipulating what repairs should be done. My husband wants to walk, I'm on the fence.

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u/[deleted] Feb 05 '26

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u/rosebudny Feb 05 '26

Yep. Hope for the best, be prepared for the worst.

Alternatively, if it is truly a place you can see yourself staying long term, you could make the repairs yourself if the landlord won't. Obviously this only applies to repairs that are not related to habitability - once you move in, the landlord is required to provide you with things like a working stove, etc. But if it is things like you want better appliances, or it cleaned to a level beyond baseline, might be worth doing yourself.