Suppose a tenant’s roommate asks you for a renewal lease in her own name on a rent-stabilized apartment or for the right to continue living in a rent-controlled apartment after the tenant dies or moves out. The roommate claims that she’s entitled to pass-on rights to the apartment,...
The Fair Housing Act (FHA) prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. In addition to having to comply with federal law, New York City’s housing discrimination law expands the FHA’s scope and offers more...
On Jan. 31, Mayor Bloomberg and the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations announced a new public-private initiative to help expand mold treatment assistance in Hurricane Sandy-affected neighborhoods. Using private money raised to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy, the Mayor’s...
Your building employees are in a perfect position to keep you up-to-date on what’s going on in your building. And the information they give you about tenants can be critical in helping you run your building. They can alert you to lease violations and unauthorized tenants, and they can help...
An owner may want to move into a rent-stabilized apartment in a building he owns for many reasons. He may desire a place to live in New York City; he may seek an apartment for a family member; he may want to expand the size of an apartment he already occupies in the building.
On Nov. 12, Mayor Bloomberg signed an emergency order to waive all Department of Buildings (DOB) application and permit fees for repair work to buildings damaged by Hurricane Sandy. To help New Yorkers affected by the storm, buildings with significant structural damage in need of demolition,...
Household hazardous waste (HHW) generated as a result of damage from Hurricane Sandy includes such things as contaminated petroleum products, paint, and pesticides. HHW should be disposed of properly to protect people’s health and the environment. The New York State Department of...
New York City’s water purity is protected by many layers of laws and regulations. Protecting the water supply is important because clean water is essential for good health and contaminated water can spread diseases and death over large populations. In the past few years, we’ve seen a...
According to the sanitation rules and regulations of New York City, owners are responsible for the cleanliness of the sidewalk in front of and adjacent to their property. The sidewalks (including areas like tree pits, grass strips, etc.) and gutter areas (18 inches from the curb into the street...
In the past few years, we've seen the rise of Web sites designed to meet the demands of creative tenants looking for ways to make some extra money. Popular Web sites such as airbnb.com, homeaway.com...
Tenants can cause unsafe conditions on your building's façade, especially during the summer months. Tenants may start placing items on the window ledge, such as plants and flowers, for the sun exposure. Tenants may attach something to the façade itself, such as a clothesline to take...
Filing a petition for administrative review (PAR) with the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) can be one of the most important dollars-and-cents steps you take. That's especially true if you're using the PAR to appeal a rent-cut order, a rent-overcharge decision, or the...
