An owner who bought nine of the most run-down apartment buildings in the Bronx in April 2011, promising to revitalize them, has made approximately $10 million in repairs since buying them for approximately $28 million. Tenant advocates worry that the new debt total of $45.5 million—$10...
Eviction: Landlord Didn't Prove Ongoing Illegal Activity in Apartment
Landlord sued to evict tenant after serving a 10-day termination notice based on illegal use of the apartment. Landlord claimed that the District Attorney directed it to start the eviction action against tenant....
In last month's Insider, we discussed the Department of Environmental Protection's accelerating phaseout of the dirtiest heating oils. The city's new regulations, issued in 2011, ban the heaviest heating oils—No. 4 and No. 6—that are still used in approximately 10,...
DOH Violations: Mouse Droppings in Apartment Show Pest Harborage Violation
DOHMH issued a violation notice to landlord for failing to keep the premises free of pests and conditions conducive to pests. The issuing officer observed fresh mouse droppings in an apartment, on the kitchen...
FBI agents recently arrested five more people in a widening probe of corruption allegations involving New York City government housing preservation officials. One city official and a former city employee were among those arrested on a variety of corruption charges.
On May 4, the New York City Water Board approved a 7 percent rate increase in water rates that it had earlier proposed, in addition to raising fees for certain services. The increase, while the smallest in seven years, is the city's 16th annual hike for metered and unmetered water rates. The...
Discrimination: Landlord Needn't Make Premises Handicapped Accessible
Tenant, a disabled veteran, sued landlord in federal court, claiming that areas of his apartment and the apartment complex were inaccessible to him due to his disability. He also claimed discrimination under the...
Owners of large apartment buildings in the city are bearing more of the property tax burden than owners of one- to three-family homes, according to a recent report released by NYU's Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. The report is titled “State of New York City's...
The Rent Guidelines Board (RGB), a nine-member panel that sets annual rent increases for rent-stabilized apartments, met on May 1 to vote on preliminary numbers for increasing rent-stabilized rents. The board voted for rent hikes of between 1.75 and 4 percent on new one-year leases and increases...
The Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) is mandated by law to establish yearly rent adjustments for rent-stabilized apartments in New York City. The board holds an annual series of public meetings and hearings to consider research from staff, and testimony from owners, tenants, advocacy groups, and...
The City Council is considering two new elevator safety bills. One would require certification for mechanics, and the other would require elevators to be equipped with extra safety mechanisms.
The proposed legislation is prompted by the tragic death of the advertising executive who was...
QI'm considering installing security cameras in common-area hallways and in the building elevator. Will tenants be able to successfully sue me on the basis of invasion of privacy and harassment?
