Feature Articles

Three Ways to Prepare for Covert Fair Housing Testers

January 21, 2020

The de Blasio administration recently released a draft report that outlined plans to promote fair housing in New York City for the next five years. The impetus for the “Where We Live” report began during the Obama administration when the federal government wanted to strengthen...

Use DHCR's Online Service for New IAI Reporting Requirements

January 21, 2020

The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) of 2019 requires owners to notify the DHCR of all individual apartment improvements (IAIs) and requires the DHCR to establish a “centralized electronic retention system” for tracking IAIs. Recently, the DHCR announced that on or...

How to Comply with LL 110 for Posting, Distributing Notices of Violations

January 21, 2020

Local Law 110 of 2019 went into effect on Dec. 5, 2019. This law requires residential property owners to post or sometimes distribute copies of DOB/OATH (Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings) violations along with an informational flyer for tenants.

The requirements of this law...

How to Comply with DOB's Gas Piping Inspections Requirements

January 21, 2020

In 2014 and 2015, New York City experienced two deadly gas explosions that prompted lawmakers to pass gas safety legislation in 2016. One explosion in March 2014 brought down two five-story apartment buildings in East Harlem, leaving more than 100 families homeless. And the other explosion...

DOF Publishes FY 2021 Tentative Assessment Roll

January 21, 2020

On Jan. 15, the NYC Department of Finance (DOF) announced the publication of the tentative property assessment roll for fiscal year (FY) 2021, which shows the total market value of all NYC properties for the upcoming year at about $1.378 trillion, an increase of $62 billion, or 4.7 percent from...

The Climate Mobilization Act: What You Need to Know

December 30, 2019

Last April, the New York City Council passed the Climate Mobilization Act, a package of legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from NYC buildings and improving their energy efficiency. The goal of the new law is to reduce overall carbon emissions 40 percent by 2030 and 80 percent...

How to Comply with FDNY Rules for Fire Safety Plans, Notices

December 17, 2019

In November 2019, the latest FDNY rules implementing Local Laws 114 and 115 of 2018 went into effect. These particular rules pertain to providing an emergency planning checklist to apartment residents and posting “Close the Door” signs in conspicuous locations. And in recent years,...

Complete Annual Bedbug Reporting Requirement with HPD by Dec. 31

December 17, 2019

As a result of Local Law 69 of 2017, apartment building owners are required to file bedbug infestation and treatment reports with HPD annually. When the law became effective, the initial due date for the filing was Jan. 31, 2019. Now, owners are required to file a Bedbug Annual Report between...

Follow Seven Dos & Don’ts When Preparing and Delivering Rent Demands

November 12, 2019

Before you can sue to evict a tenant for not paying the rent, you must send the tenant a legal notice known as a “rent demand.” In it, you ask the tenant to pay the rent owed and give him a chance to pay before starting a nonpayment proceeding. Although this seems simple enough, a...

DHCR Updates MCI Application Form, Useful Life Schedule

November 12, 2019

The passage of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (HSTPA) significantly curtailed rent increases owners could get for major capital improvements (MCIs) and increased oversight by the DHCR. When owners make improvements or installations to a building subject to the rent...

City Can Freeze SCRIE/DRIE Rent at Preferential Level

November 12, 2019

The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) made it possible to freeze rents at preferential rates for qualifying New Yorkers. The de Blasio administration has released guidance regarding renter rights under the HSTPA. This guidance will allow New Yorkers who pay preferential rents...

How to Request Additional Time to Correct HPD Violations

October 11, 2019

When you get a violation notice from the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), it will specify a deadline for correcting the violation. HPD issues violations to owners of buildings that don’t meet the standards of the city’s Housing Maintenance Code...