Exchanging residences is viewed as receiving a monetized consideration for the use of your apartment -- even if the "value" of the other residence is lower in value than your apartment. Remember that the landlord wants you OUT of that apartment so that the apartment could be converted into a market rate apartment. What's of interest here is not the value of the rent you pay now as a rent stabilized tenant, but what the landlord could get as a market rate apartment if you can be evicted. The landlord is motivated to find a way to evict you, you know.
That said, people swap apartments all the time and for long periods of time. But, of course, it's a risk and housing court can be ugly and costly. |
