Q. Do we have to pay rent if we move out early due to a doorman strike?
A. Sorry to say that the answer seems to be yes, says landlord-tenant lawyer and BrickTank expert Cory L. Weiss.
“The mere fact that there is a strike does not provide a legal basis for not paying rent or not moving out,” says Weiss.
However, if your landlord is unwilling to strike a deal with you, perhaps you can work something out with the next tenant, if there is one. Just as you’re stuck 15 floors up during a labor walkout, your replacement is probably stuck 15 floors down, unable to make use of the apartment he or she is paying for and as eager as you are to make a deal.
Trouble at home? Get your NYC apartment-dweller questions answered by an expert! Send us your questions via our feedback form.
BrickUnderground 2010 Strike Coverage
Strike epilogue: How did the union get your email address?
Threat of strike diminishing amid "significant progress"
Insider's guide to the un-doormanned life
Predicting a doorman strike: This time is different
NYC doormen to rally on UES tomorrow
Don't look for me on the picket line
Going rogue: Hitting the panic button in a strike
Relax, N.Y.: Doorman strike vote is just part of the dance
In case of strike, hold onto your gas cap
Doormen can't make ends meet, but the Mets tickets and golf outings are nice
Coming soon: A doorman and porter strike?
