Feature

RGB Kicks Off Annual Rent Increase Decision Process

April 23, 2021    

The Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) recently started its annual process for examining and considering lease renewal guidelines in the coming year. This is the one decision of the RGB that has the greatest impact on owners since the board’s decision with regard to rent renewal increases affects...

How to Avoid Lawful Source-of-Income Discrimination Charges

March 19, 2021    

A recent lawsuit filed by the Housing Rights Initiative (HRI) against 88 brokerage firms and landlords brought attention to source-of-income discrimination. This discrimination is the illegal practice by landlords, owners, and brokers of refusing to rent to current or prospective tenants seeking...

How Will NY Implement the Emergency Rental Assistance Program?

February 19, 2021    

State lawmakers recently introduced a newly amended bill that’s intended to meet the federal requirements of the COVID-19 rent-relief measure enacted in December 2020. The federal rent relief package included $25 billion in emergency rental assistance. New York State is expected to receive...

New York State Extends Rent Relief, Broadens Eligibility

January 22, 2021    

The latest application window for COVID rent relief ends Feb. 1.

When the New York State Legislature passed the Emergency Rent Relief Act of 2020 last May, the DHCR was charged with administering the program by disbursing $100 million from the state’s CARES Act money to eligible...

How to Get DHCR Approval to Demolish a Rent-Regulated Building

December 18, 2020    

The DHCR recently updated its fact sheet related to demolitions. Demolitions have garnered more attention in recent years due to the sweeping changes made to rent regulations as a result of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA). Passed in June 2019, HSTPA severely limited rent...

Set Occupancy Benchmarks to Prevent Improper Pass-Ons

November 20, 2020    

Here’s how to keep track of who’s living in an apartment.

 

Old Rules vs. New Rules: Anatomy of HSTPA's Effect on Rent Increases

October 26, 2020    

The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) of 2019, which went into effect on June 14, 2019, made dramatic changes to how rents can be raised. It changed formulas for vacancy leases, major capital improvements (MCI), and individual apartment improvements (IAI). Before HSTPA, rent...

CDC Issues Eviction Moratorium Until Dec. 31

September 24, 2020    

We answer landlords’ most frequently asked questions about the CDC order.

 

Chief Judge Pauses Execution of Eviction Warrants Until October

August 26, 2020    

On Aug. 12, 2020, New York State Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks issued a memorandum revising the procedure for both residential and commercial eviction proceedings. This guidance comes a week after Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.55 extending New York’s eviction...

New Law Extends COVID-Related Eviction Protections

July 23, 2020    

Tenants are still on the hook to pay back rent owed, but you may have to work out a payment plan....

 

On June 30, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the New York Tenant Safe Harbor Act. The new law, sponsored by New York State Senators Brad Hoylman and Liz...

RGB Issues Rent Freeze Amid Pandemic

June 26, 2020    

The RGB freezes one-year renewal rents and sets a partial freeze for two-year renewals.

 

On June 17, in a 6 to 3 vote, the city’s Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) decided to freeze rents for rent-stabilized tenants with one-year leases. For two-year renewal leases, a 1...

How to Comply with Order Extending Eviction Moratorium

May 21, 2020    

We explain which tenants are protected and how to let tenants tap security deposits for rent.

 

On May 7, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into effect New York State Executive Order No. 202.28, extending the eviction moratorium from June 20 through Aug. 20. The moratorium...