In the News

Report Finds More Than Half of NYC’s Airbnb Listings in 2015 Were Illegal; Airbnb Responds

July 13, 2016    
Following a report that found that over half of Airbnb listings in New York City were illegal, Airbnb has released its own numbers. The report was issued by Housing Conservation Coordinators and MFY Legal Services. It found that 55 percent or almost 30,000 of the more than 51,000 Airbnb listings...
In the News

DOB Plans to Launch Electronic Filing System

July 13, 2016    
The DOB is rolling out a new $29.6 million computer system this summer that will replace an antiquated mainframe that still relies on paper to process all construction permits, safety inspections, and complaints. The new system is called DOB Now, and its purpose is to streamline and digitize nearly...
Landlord v. Tenant

Landlord v. Tenant: August 2016

July 13, 2016    
Landlord’s Negligence: Landlord Not Responsible for Shooting of Two Tenants in Vestibule Tenant and the family of another tenant sued landlord for negligence after they were shot in the building’s public vestibule. One of the tenants died. Landlord asked the court to dismiss the case...
Feature

How to Evict Troublesome Tenants

June 23, 2016    
Few things can cause headaches or lower the value of your building faster than a disruptive or destructive tenant. If you do nothing while a tenant harasses other tenants, you could run into trouble later on. If the tenant harms another building tenant, you may be brought into court to explain why...
Management Basics

File 2016 Rent Registrations Online by July 31

June 23, 2016    
You must file an Annual Apartment Registration application with the DHCR for every rent-stabilized apartment you own by July 31, 2016, using the DHCR’s online Owner Rent Regulation Application system. As in past years, the penalty for not filing is stiff: You can’t collect a rent...
In the News

Legislative Session Ends without the 421-a Tax Break

June 23, 2016    
The New York State Legislature finished its last official session of 2016 without renewing or replacing the state’s 421-a program. The 421-a program expired in January. Originally, it launched during the fiscal crisis of the 1970s to encourage new residential construction by offering...
In the News

State Legislature Passes Bill to Fine Illegal Airbnb Listings

June 23, 2016    
The New York State Senate recently passed a bill that would make it illegal to advertise short-term rentals (less than 30 days) for entire homes on Airbnb after the State Assembly passed the bill through to the State Senate. The next step in the process is for Governor Andrew Cuomo to either sign...
In the News

City Council Introduces Bills to Combat 'Predatory Equity'

June 23, 2016    
The City Council recently introduced a set of bills aimed at limiting the practice of buying rent-stabilized units at prices that advocates say make sense only if some tenants are ultimately replaced by higher-paying ones. The council members are hoping that by targeting and identifying real estate...
Landlord v. Tenant

Landlord v. Tenant: July 2016

June 23, 2016    
Alterations to Apartments: Landlord Can Evict Tenants If They Don’t Remove Washing Machine Landlord sued to evict rent-stabilized tenants for keeping and using a washing machine in their apartment, in violation of their lease. Landlord and tenants, each represented by attorneys, signed a...
Feature

How to Handle No-Pet Lease Clause Violations

May 26, 2016    
Even though your lease bans pets, a tenant may violate the lease by moving in with a pet—or by bringing in a pet sometime later. In either situation, you want to get the pet out. While you can always seek the tenant’s eviction as a last resort, you can first try to get the tenant to...