Departments

RGB Votes for Rent Increases in Preliminary Vote

May 23, 2019

In a preliminary vote on May 7, the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) recommended increasing rent for rent-stabilized apartment buildings. The board’s preliminary vote inside The Great Hall at Cooper Union in the East Village called for:

Mayor Appoints New HPD and DOB Commissioners

May 23, 2019

Mayor Bill de Blasio recently announced that Louise Carroll will serve as the next Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Carroll will work closely with the new Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants to create strategies to hold bad landlords accountable...

Mayor Supports New Regulations to Protect Tenants

May 23, 2019

In a recent op-ed in the New York Daily News, Mayor de Blasio called on Albany to protect the over two million New Yorkers living in rent-stabilized apartments. The mayor outlined his support for several proposed Albany legislative policies that will close loopholes that predatory...

Landlord v. Tenant: June 2019

May 23, 2019

MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

Parking Area Wasn’t Commercial Space for MCI Purposes

Landlord applied for MCI rent hikes based on installation of a new roof, facade and parapet restoration, bulkhead and entrance doors, intercoms, and related architectural fees. The DRA ruled...

State Lawmakers Pass Legislation Criminalizing Tenant Harassment

April 18, 2019

State lawmakers recently passed the Tenant Protection Act of 2019, which amends the state’s Penal Law to lower the legal bar to prove harassment against owners. Previously, criminal charges couldn’t be pursued unless prosecutors could prove that the offending owner intended to push...

Rent Regulation Uncertainty Affecting NYC Rental Building Sales

April 18, 2019

The current rent law expires in June and major reforms to New York’s rent regulations are on Democratic lawmakers’ agenda now that they control the entire state Legislature. Proposed changes to the rent laws are expected to make it harder for landlords to raise rents on regulated...

Mayor Appoints Director to the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants

April 18, 2019

On Jan. 10, at the State of the City, Mayor de Blasio signed an executive order establishing the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, which will lead comprehensive outreach on anti-harassment initiatives and be the central point of contact for tenant advocates. The mayor recently appointed...

Landlord v. Tenant: May 2019

April 18, 2019

PETS

Tenant Didn’t Prove Dog Was Emotional Support Animal

Landlord sued to evict tenant for keeping a dog in her apartment, in violation of a no-pet clause in tenant's lease. Tenant claimed that the dog was an emotional support animal needed for her to enjoy her use...

Agencies Try to Block Owner’s Eviction-through-Bankruptcy Attempt

March 19, 2019

An East Village owner is asking a bankruptcy court to terminate tenants’ leases on the grounds that a proposed $8.2 million sale of the building can’t go through while the rent-stabilized leases are in place. The building has 16 rent-stabilized units and eight tenants at the building...

Bill Introduced to Change Lookback Period for Overcharge Complaints

March 19, 2019

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz recently introduced a bill to change the state law when it comes to tenants who wish to file a rent overcharge complaint. Currently, tenants can request their rent history from the DHCR and file a complaint if they see their rent was increased beyond the legal limit...

Comptroller Testifies on NYC’s Preliminary FY 2020 Budget

March 19, 2019

NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer recently testified before the New York City Council Committee on Finance’s Fiscal Year 2020 Preliminary Budget Hearing. This year, the comptroller continues the watch list of city agencies that are of most concern when it comes to budgeting. The list...

Resiliency Plan Aims to Protect Lower Manhattan from Climate Change

March 19, 2019

Mayor de Blasio recently released the findings of a study that determined the city’s comprehensive strategy for the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency (LMCR) project. The study evaluated dozens of adaptation measures and identified a set of strategies to build resilience in Lower Manhattan...