Online Alerts

Tenant Protest Leads to Arrests as Rent Reg Renewal Deadline Nears

June 6, 2019    

At a recent protest in Albany, hundreds of protesters frustrated by the slow movement of proposals to strengthen tenant protections in New York State blocked access to the Senate and Assembly chambers in Albany. Sixty-one people throughout the Capitol were arrested and charged with disorderly...

Governor Cuomo Opposes Outright Elimination of MCIs, IAIs

June 6, 2019    

At a recent press conference, Gov. Cuomo rejected the idea of eliminating the major capital improvements (MCIs) and individual apartment improvements (IAIs) mechanisms for recouping owner capital investments in rent-regulated buildings. He said the package of reforms he and the state Legislature...

Bill Would Require Racial Impact Analysis on Rezonings

June 6, 2019    

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams intends to introduce legislation that would force a racial impact analysis as part of the city’s environmental impact statement of zoning changes. City-led rezonings have faced criticisms for targeting neighborhoods of color. “Rezonings have had a net...

Apartment Law Insider Receives Newsletter Award

June 5, 2019    

For the third year in a row, New York Apartment Law Insider has been recognized by the Specialized Information Publishers Association as one of the best business newsletters published today. Also among the top three newsletters awarded was the Insider's sister publication...

Mayor Launches Lead Paint Testing Program at NYCHA

May 2, 2019    

Mayor Bill de Blasio recently initiated NYCHA’s new lead-based paint testing program. For the first time, 135,000 apartments will be tested with portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers. Surpassing local and federal requirements, this effort will determine the presence of lead paint and...

Mayor Appoints Five Members to the Rent Guidelines Board

May 2, 2019    

Mayor de Blasio recently appointed the following five members to the Rent Guidelines Board:  David Reiss as Chair; May Yu, German Tejeda, and Alex Schwartz as public members; and Patti Stone as an owner member. The Rent Guidelines Board determines annual rent adjustments for approximately...

Blackstone Group to Refund $1.1M to Rent-Stabilized Tenants

May 2, 2019    

Blackstone Group will pay about $1.1 million in refunds to rent-stabilized tenants at Parker Towers in Queens. The lawsuit was initially launched in March 2018 against the Jack Parker Corporation, which accused the real estate company of illegally deregulating apartments in the 1,327-unit Forest...

Landlord Groups Turn Up Pressure on Lawmakers with Ad Campaign

April 4, 2019    

With rent laws coming up for renewal, landlord groups have been pushing back against the support that has been building for major reform. A coalition of New York City building owners has begun an ad campaign that calls on lawmakers in Albany to protect small property owners' ability to...

Presidential Candidates Seek Monthly IRS Tax Credit for Rent

April 4, 2019    

Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Kamala Harris both wrote legislation last year to help out rent-burdened households. They are planning to introduce new versions of those bills for this legislative session. The new proposals may create a tax credit for housing rental assistance every month....

Owner Faces Backlash Over Plan to Install Facial Recognition Technology

April 4, 2019    

A group of rent-stabilized tenants at a Brooklyn complex have filed an objection with the state’s Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) agency over the owner’s plans to install facial recognition technology at the entrance to the site. The tenants are concerned over the potential for...

Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Queens Landlord

March 7, 2019    

Attorney General James and Governor Cuomo recently announced a lawsuit against a Queens landlord, Zara Realty, for violating rent stabilization laws and harassing tenants. The lawsuit alleges the landlord targeted tenants in at least 38 rent-stabilized buildings by charging excessive fees,...

Legislators Propose Bill to Eradicate MCI Rent Hikes

March 7, 2019    

State Senator Michael Gianaris and State Assembly Member Brian Barnwell have introduced legislation that would completely eradicate the MCI program. The proposed legislation represents a change from a previous piece of legislation that was introduced by Gianaris and Barnwell, which called for...