Recent Feedback
I own a small commercial building in NYC. In 2001 I was contacted by an estate to move and then store some antique furniture. I was paid for the move and some of the rent for storage but by 2002 the monthly payments stopped coming. Emails and letters to our contact at the estate were not replied to. The estate then became a foundation (I believe with not-for-profit status). In 2009 I received a letter from a lawyer representing the foundation inquiring about the items in storage stating that they were in the process of compiling a report for the Attorney General of NY of all the assets of the foundation. I replied that I still had possession of the furniture (in the same condition) and that there was aproximately $30,000 due in back rent. The attorney for the foundation responded with an offer of $4,000 for the rent and request to retrive the stored items. Is my best course of action in L&T court? Is the property considered abandoned? If so, can I sell it to recoup the money owed?
Optional Information: State/Country of Question: New York Already Tried: The objects are worth more than the back rent due.
The property is not considered abandoned, but you have the right to refuse to allow access to your building since there has been no rent paid for so many years and you have an agreement on how much was due. You can then go to court to sue for the back due rent and seek to get an order from the court to seize the items up to the value of the rent in exchange for payment. You cannot do anything with the property until you get a court judgment. Also, the attorney's offer of $4000 is silly for about 7 years of rent and you need to respond to him and tell him that the offer was not even close to a good faith offer to settle and send him an actual bill for the rent and inform him that if he does not provide payment of the rent due you will proceed to court for collection of that rent and until then they cannot come on the premises.
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