Departments

Allowing Electronic Signatures on Rent-Stabilized Leases

November 12, 2019

Q It seems as though younger tenants want to do everything online and enjoy the convenience of electronically signing documents. Can I offer rent-stabilized renewal leases by electronic means?

Queens Owners Settle $1M Discrimination Case

November 12, 2019

Former owners of a rental building in Far Rockaway have agreed to pay $1 million to settle a federal lawsuit accusing them of discriminating against people who had been incarcerated. The lawsuit claimed that the owner refused to rent apartments to applicants who had served time in prison. The...

Council Considers Regulating Biometric Data at Apartment Buildings

November 12, 2019

The City Council’s Committee on Housing and Buildings recently received a bill that would require building owners to provide residents with mechanical keys to their buildings and individual apartments. This would allow residents to bypass keyless entry systems, which can include facial...

Landlord v. Tenant: December 2019

November 12, 2019

MAJOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

MCI Increase Granted for New Garage Roof that Doubled as Courtyard

Landlord applied for MCI rent hikes based on the installation of a new garage roof that functioned as a courtyard. The DRA ruled for landlord but disallowed the costs of...

City Council Bill Would Limit Facial Recognition Technology

October 11, 2019

Privacy concerns by tenants and civil liberties experts have prompted the New York City Council to consider legislation that would regulate the use of facial recognition technology by both business owners and landlords. The KEYS (Keep Entry to Your Home Surveillance Free) Act, introduced by...

Judge Recommends Fine Against Owner for Threatening to Report Tenant to ICE

October 11, 2019

An administrative judge recently ruled that a landlord had violated the city’s human rights law for threatening to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on a tenant. The judge recommended she pay $17,000 in a fine and damages. New York’s Commission on Human Rights...

Landlord v. Tenant: November 2019

October 11, 2019

DISCRIMINATION

Landlord Must Accept Section 8 Vouchers

The NY Attorney General sued landlord and sought an injunction barring landlord from not accepting federal housing subsidized vouchers as a form of rent. The AG claimed that landlord’s refusal to accept the vouchers...

City Council Enhances HPD's Ability to Recoup Relocation Expenses

September 19, 2019

On Aug. 14, 2019, the City Council passed Intro 30-A, which gives HPD liens a stronger position. It establishes that outstanding charges resulting from relocation expenses incurred by HPD following the issuance of certain vacate orders constitute a tax lien on a property. In other words, after...

Comment Period Ends for FDNY's Proposed Emergency Checklist, 'Close Door' Sign Requirements

September 19, 2019

The public comment period for the Fire Department’s proposed rule regarding implementation of Local Law Nos. 114 and 115 of 2018 recently closed. The Fire Department will review the testimony and modify the rules based on the public’s feedback, if necessary, then draft a final...

DCP Releases Storefront Vacancy Report

September 19, 2019

The Department of City Planning (DCP) recently released “Assessing Storefront Vacancy in NYC,” a report that examines retail patterns and storefront vacancies across 24 different neighborhood shopping corridors around the city. Recently, news media, communities, and elected officials...

City Sues Commercial Building Owner in Airbnb Crackdown

September 19, 2019

New York City recently filed a lawsuit against an owner of three Manhattan buildings over allegedly using Airbnb to advertise illegal short-term rental units in the properties. According to the lawsuit, the owner and his companies formed at least 21 illegal listings at the buildings through...

Landlord v. Tenant: October 2019

September 19, 2019

RENEWAL LEASES

Rent-Stabilized Tenant Can’t Add Son to Parking Space Lease

Rent-stabilized tenant filed a lease violation complaint. Tenant claimed that landlord refused to offer a renewal lease for parking spaces on the same terms and conditions as contained in the...