New York City tenants pay $500/month in rent after outing their landlord's illegal scheme, end up with a $30,000 payout and a rent-controlled apartment: 'We are staying here forever'

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 6, 2025 9:00 PM EST

We love New York. 

The only reason people don't end up staying in NYC and living there forever is that they're likely priced out of the market. It's understandably expensive because it's so magical and mysterious in the city, so landlords can get away with highway robbery, charging $3000+ for a closet-sized apartment infested with rats. Alas, despite this battle of supply and demand, New York City has a few pockets of hope in buildings with rent control. Few and far between, these are the pure and perfect housing zones where residents aren't charged astronomically, often enjoying the same rent price they've been paying since the 80s. 

As you would imagine, these are very competitive accommodations. 

However, every once in a while, the stars will align for some fatefully lucky NYC resident, bestowing upon them a rent-controlled apartment and access to the city without breaking the bank. A man and his girlfriend recently scored the NYC lottery (the REAL one, not the one with lotto tickets at the bodega), when they found out their apartment was in a rent-controlled building. Not only was their landlord overcharging them for years, resulting in $30k in backpay, but from this point onward, their 1-bedroom apartment in an extremely high-cost-of-living area would only be $500 per month. 

I guess that means they can never move anywhere else. 

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  • Couple walking in New York City in the park
    via Monkey Business Images

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
     

  • I'm paying close to nothing in rent I live in a VHCOL area by New York City with my wife. We found out our landlord has been overcharging us
    via porkbellychubs
  • in a rent controlled building. Our rent is now legally $500 dollars and that is what we will pay moving forward. We are staying here forever.
    via porkbellychubs
  • Oh and they owe us around 30k in overcharges. That is all.
    via porkbellychubs
  • Couple holding hands in NYC with the skyline in the background.
    via Monkey Business Images

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • snowplowmom At that rate, the LL is essentially paying you to live there. I have a feeling that he is going to figure out a way to get you out, legally.
    via snowplowmom
  • OP porkbellychubs Will be very hard. If they do that, it would take years, money and legal $. I have a lot of protections under rent control
    via porkbellychubs
  • Highly Favored This is a win! Are you restricted from sub letting?
    via Highly Favored
  • OP porkbellychubs yes
    via porkbellychubs
  • StockQuestion0808 Do you get to skip rent for 5 years or will you be receiving the 30k as a lump sum while paying rent?
    via StockQuestion0808
  • OP porkbellychubs The latter
    via porkbellychubs
  • Crazylococool26 That's awesome - how big is your apartment? I'm just curious, I have lived in a 5 different states but never East Coast. I imagine a loft but have no clue
    via Crazylococool26
  • OP porkbellychubs 1BR, walk in closet, no amenities like laundry or dish washer. I'll take it tho!
    via porkbellychubs
  • Green-Krush That is fucking amazing how did you find this out?
    via Green-Krush
  • OP porkbellychubs Luck
    via porkbellychubs
  • IceCreamMan5544 Congratulations! You are a welfare recipient. I'm sure the intention of rent control is to give you a below market rate (which you don't need if you were paying a higher rent) and not to someone who actually needs a subsidy.
    via IceCreamMan5544
  • OP porkbellychubs I love when a humble brag on a Brag subreddit gets people salty lol how much u payin?
    via porkbellychubs
  • Odd_Tumbleweed5830 Don't you feel guilty at all? The landlord still has to pay property tax, insurance, HOA fee. The $500/mo probably does not cover those
    via Odd_Tumbleweed5830
  • OP porkbellychubs Not in the least bit
    via porkbellychubs
  • throwawaydumbo1 How are you gonna get your 30k back?
    via throwawaydumbo1
  • OP porkbellychubs Court
    via porkbellychubs
  • List3nLinda CONGRATS dude thats awesome! Save and buy experiences that last forever
    via List3nLinda
  • macross 1984 Wow, only $500 monthly in NYC apartment. And you are owed $30k overcharge which means you live rent free for the next five years. Congratulation to your very good fortune.
    via macross

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landlord manhattan rent control tenant rent Renters new york city
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