Four-Year Rule Cuts Off Tenant's Claim

(Decision submitted by Nichalas G. Petras of the Manhasset, New York-based Stone Properties Group, LLC.) Tenant complained that landlord sent an improper renewal lease offer. Tenant claimed that his fiancèe was on the prior 2000 lease as cotenant. He wanted her name returned to the current renewal lease. Landlord stated that fiancèe's name hadn't been on the lease since 1999 because she no longer lived in the apartment. Landlord argued that it didn't have to add fiancèe's name to tenant's renewal lease. The DRA ruled for landlord and dismissed the complaint. Tenant's name was the only name on all renewal leases since the base date of May 12, 2001, four years before his complaint was filed. So landlord wasn't required to add any names to the lease, other than a spouse's.

Alvarado v. Dorothea 32nd Co. LLC: DRO Dckt. No. TE110056RV (9/13/05) [1-pg. doc.]