State lawmakers recently introduced a newly amended bill that’s intended to meet the federal requirements of the COVID-19 rent-relief measure enacted in December 2020. The federal rent relief package included $25 billion in emergency rental assistance. New York State is expected to receive...
As New York City deals with winter storms and temperature swings, heat and hot water complaints are likely to be the most common type of service complaint you’ll face. A tenant or group of tenants may file a complaint with HPD and may also seek a rent reduction through the Division of...
Local Law 29 of 2020 became effective on Feb. 11, 2021. It expanded the application of New York City’s lead paint rules to include tenant-occupied, one- and two-unit buildings. Before Local Law 29 went into effect, most of Local Law 1, NYC’s lead poisoning prevention law, had applied...
The latest application window for COVID rent relief ends Feb. 1.
When the New York State Legislature passed the Emergency Rent Relief Act of 2020 last May, the DHCR was charged with administering the program by disbursing $100 million from the state’s CARES Act money to eligible...
On Jan. 12, the DHCR issued Operational Bulletin 2021-1, which replaces Operation Bulletin 2020-01. According to the DHCR, this bulletin is designed to be updated annually to reflect reasonable costs associated with major capital improvements (MCIs). The annual bulletin allows the DHCR to...
On Jan. 15, the NYC Department of Finance (DOF) announced the publication of the tentative property tax assessment roll for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22). The tax assessment roll set the tentative values for all New York City properties. The FY22 tentative assessment roll shows the total market value...
Stove knob covers are an important fire prevention tool. The covers make stove knobs on gas-powered stoves inaccessible to children. Local Law 117, which became effective in December 2018, requires that an owner of multiple dwellings provide stove knob covers for gas-powered stoves where the...
The DHCR recently updated its fact sheet related to demolitions. Demolitions have garnered more attention in recent years due to the sweeping changes made to rent regulations as a result of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA). Passed in June 2019, HSTPA severely limited rent...
The New York City Fire Department recently adopted rules implementing Local Law 103 of 2019. This law, which took effect on Oct. 6, 2019, requires apartment building owners (Group R-2 buildings and occupancies) within a hurricane evacuation zone, as designated by the Commissioner of the Office...
Mayor Bill de Blasio recently signed into law a bill that requires some rent-regulated buildings to abide by strict carbon emission caps. The bill, which was spearheaded by Queens Council Member Costa Constantinides, increases the threshold for rent-regulated buildings to be exempted from the...
In New York City, Local Law 55 of 2018, the Asthma-Free Housing Act, requires that owners of buildings with three or more apartments keep their tenants’ apartments free of mold and pests. Under this law, an owner of multiple dwellings is required to inspect units annually for indoor...
