Online Alerts

Eviction Moratorium Extended until May 1

January 6, 2021    

On Dec. 28, the New York legislature convened in a special session to extend the eviction moratorium until at least May. Governor Cuomo signed the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 into law, which went into effect immediately.

City Council Extends Gas Pipe Inspection Deadline

January 6, 2021    

We previously reported that the first cycle filing window for NYC Local Law 152 of 2016, which requires the inspection of gas piping systems at least once every four years, was on Dec. 31, 2020—unless the City Council passes a bill to extend the deadline. In December, the City Council...

Tenant Activist to Be Nominated to City Planning Commission

January 6, 2021    

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams intends to nominate tenant organizer Cea Weaver to the City Planning Commission. Williams can appoint one of the commission’s 13 seats. The planning commission oversees the city’s growth and development in the areas of housing, business, industry,...

File Annual Bedbug History with HPD by Dec. 31

December 16, 2020    

As a result of Local Law 69 of 2017, apartment building owners are required to file bedbug infestation and treatment reports with HPD annually. Owners must file between Dec. 1 and Dec. 31 for the previous year from November 2019 through November 2020.

Attorney General Secures $1M in Rent Credits for Harassed Tenants

December 16, 2020    

New York Attorney General Letitia James recently announced an agreement that secures more than $1 million in rent credits for harassed tenants and provides housing placements for 10 homeless families. The agreement with private equity firm Madison Realty Capital comes after Attorney General...

City Council May Extend Gas Pipe Inspection Deadline

December 2, 2020    

The first cycle filing window for NYC Local Law 152 of 2016, which requires the inspection of gas piping systems at least once every four years, is coming due on Dec. 31, 2020—unless the City Council passes a bill to extend the deadline. Currently, owners of buildings in Community...

Landlords Lose Challenge to City’s COVID-19 Small Business Protections

December 2, 2020    

If you own a mixed-use building with retail tenants, you may be interested to know about a recent federal decision from the Southern District of New York. In July, two commercial landlords sued the city over laws passed to protect retail tenants during the pandemic. The federal lawsuit...

Mayor Signs Bills Strengthening Income Discrimination Laws

November 18, 2020    

Mayor Bill de Blasio recently signed into law Intro. 1339-A, which requires the Department of Social Services (DSS) to provide information to CityFHEPS rental assistance applicants about income discrimination at the time an applicant receives a “shopping letter” from DSS. CityFHEPS...

Developers to Pay More Than $613K for Flouting Rent Stabilization Requirements

November 18, 2020    

New York Attorney General Letitia James recently announced agreements in four cases involving developers failing to comply with rent stabilization requirements. The 421-a program provides partial property tax exemptions to real estate developers that build qualifying new housing in New York City...

DOB Launches Dashboard for Checking Service Wait Times

November 4, 2020    

The DOB launched an online Service Levels Tracker, a new tool that allows New Yorkers to see average wait times for DOB services. While this information has been available to the public in different forms over the years, DOB’s new tracker puts it all in one location, with clear...

Tenants Get $40M in COVID-19 Rent Relief from State

November 4, 2020    

New York State’s Division of Homes and Community Renewal recently issued a report on the status of the state’s COVID-19 rent relief program. Nearly $40 million will be distributed to more than 15,000 households through the program. This includes $23.2 million already distributed and...

HPD Announces Start of Heat Season and Releases Last Season’s Stats

October 22, 2020    

On Oct. 1, 2020, HPD announced the start of the 2020 – 2021 heat season, in which all residential building owners are required to maintain specific indoor temperatures. From Oct. 1, 2020, through May 31, 2021, building owners must maintain indoor temperatures at 68 degrees when outdoor...