Management Basics
September 23, 2016
During the previous “heat season,” the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) fielded 200,904 heat complaints. The current heat season begins on Oct. 1 and continues through May 31, 2017. During this time period, residential building owners with tenants are required by...
Violations
September 23, 2016
The Department of Finance (DOF) has officially launched the “Forgiving Fines: ECB Amnesty Program.” The program started on Sept. 12, 2016, and continues through Dec. 12, 2016. Local Law 45, which was signed by Mayor de Blasio in April, authorized the DOF to create this program for...
Landlord v. Tenant
September 23, 2016
Major Capital Improvements
MCI Rent Hike Granted for Building-Wide Carpet Installation
Landlord applied for MCI rent hikes based on building-wide carpet installation. The DRA ruled for landlord, and tenants appealed. Tenants argued that carpet was previously installed in 1995 and that the replaced...
Feature
August 19, 2016
On July 6, 2016, the New York State Department of Health’s final regulations applicable to all owners of buildings with cooling towers went into effect. The new regulations grew out of emergency regulations the Department adopted last summer when 138 residents of the South Bronx fell ill with...
Rent Increases
August 19, 2016
If you sign a vacancy lease with a tenant between Oct. 1, 2016, and Sept. 30, 2017, the new order issued on June 27 by the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB)—RGBO #48—lets you collect the vacancy increases permitted under the Rent Regulation Reform Act of 1997 (RRRA).
Rent Increases
August 19, 2016
In May 2016, the New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) issued a processing directive allowing applications for a rent increase for installing accessibility ramps as a major capital improvement (MCI). An MCI is a permanent increase in rent for a rent-stabilized or rent-controlled tenant,...
Landlord v. Tenant
August 19, 2016
MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Tenant Refused Access for Window Installation
Landlord applied for MCI rent hikes based on building-wide installation of new windows. The DHCR ruled for landlord. One tenant filed an Article 78 appeal, claiming that the DHCR’s decision was unreasonable because she...
Feature
July 13, 2016
In April, HUD’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) issued guidance addressing how refusing to rent or renew a lease based on an individual’s criminal history could violate the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Although the guidance does not have the force of law, it shows how HUD intends to...
Rent Increases
July 13, 2016
On June 27, the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) voted for a 0 percent increase on one-year leases, and a 2 percent increase on two-year leases. The nine-member board voted 7-0, with two abstentions from the members representing the interests of landlords, to approve a 0 percent increase on one-year...
Management Basics
July 13, 2016
From time to time, you may need to ask the DHCR for certain information or documents. For example, you may be defending against a reduced services complaint and want to see the DHCR inspection report, or you may want a printout of all cases currently pending at the DHCR for a building you’ve...
