In the News

Airbnb Reaches Host Data Agreement with State Attorney General

May 27, 2014    
Airbnb has reached a deal with the New York attorney general in which the rental company will turn over anonymous records of Airbnb hosts for analysis. In the data handed over there will be no names, addresses, or personally identifiable information.
In the News

NYC Proposes 3.35% Increase in Water Rate

May 27, 2014    
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration recently proposed a 3.35 percent increase in New York City’s water and sewer rates. It’s the lowest such increase since fiscal 2006, but officials acknowledged the recommendation doesn’t fully address what the mayor previously denounced...
Landlord v. Tenant

Landlord v. Tenant: June 2014

May 27, 2014    
Demolition: Building Code Changes Required Changes to Demolition Plan Landlord asked the DHCR for permission to refuse renewal of rent-stabilized tenants’ leases based on its intent to demolish the building. The DRA ruled against landlord, finding that it didn’t have the required...
Feature

RGB Vote on Preliminary Guidelines Sets Stage for Unprecedented Rent Freeze

May 9, 2014    
On May 5, the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) approved preliminary numbers for increasing rent-stabilized rents. The board approved rent hikes of between 0 and 3 percent for one-year renewal leases and increases of between 0.5 percent and 4.5 percent for two-year renewal leases commencing between Oct....
In the News

Mayor Sets Ambitious 10-Year Plan for Housing

May 9, 2014    
On May 5, Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a 10-year, $41.4 billion affordable housing plan for New York City. The plan outlines how the administration intends to create and preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing over the next 10 years. Of those, 80,000 will be new units and 120,000 will be...
Management Basics

What to Do if Tenant Refuses Access for Window-Guard Installation

May 9, 2014    
You face a big problem if you know that a child under the age of 11 lives in an apartment but the tenant won’t let you in to install window guards. Section 131.15(a) of the city’s Health Code requires you to install window guards on each window of an apartment occupied by a child under...
In the News

Records Show Big Earners Occupying Rent-Regulated Apartments

May 9, 2014    
Recently, the Citizens Budget Committee and DNAinfo looked at the census numbers and state records and found that in 2010, 22,642 of the city’s 970,000 rent-stabilized apartments (approximately 2.3 percent) were occupied by households making more than $199,000. Of those, 2,300 apartments were...
Feature

How to Comply with New Smoke Detector Requirements

April 24, 2014    
In late December 2013, Mayor Bloomberg signed new smoke alarm regulations that came into effect in April 2014. Local Law 112 of 2013 was signed to address the public safety concern that apartments may be equipped with smoke alarms that no longer function properly. Properly installed and working...
Management Basics

Realty Advisory Board and Local 32BJ Reach New Labor Agreement

April 24, 2014    
Averting a possible strike, SEIU 32BJ, the union representing residential building service workers in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island, recently reached a labor agreement with the Realty Advisory Board, an association that negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of...
Q & A

Preventing Fraud in Affordable Housing

April 24, 2014    
Q: The building I own receives tax benefits through the 421-a Affordable Housing Program. In exchange for these benefits, I must rent 20 percent of the apartments to low- to middle-income families and these units are subject to Rent Stabilization. To qualify for one of these coveted apartments, an...