Dos & Don'ts, Q & A, In the News, Landlord v. Tenant

Landlord v. Tenant: January 2022

December 20, 2021    

HARASSMENT

Tenant Doesn’t Prove Harassment Based on Alleged Toxic Odor

Tenant brought an HP proceeding against landlord, claiming harassment. She said there was a “toxic odor invading” her apartment in June 2020 and that landlord did nothing about it. Landlord...

ERAP Update: COVID Rent Relief Funds Depleted, Governor Requests More Federal Aid

November 19, 2021    

Nearly 280,000 households have submitted ERAP applications, and the number of payments issued to owners is 81,209 since the application portal opened on June 1, according to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), the agency in charge of distributing $2.7 billion through the...

New City Council Bill Proposes Free Internet for Every Apartment

October 18, 2021    

Under a recently proposed bill by Council Member Ben Kallos, broadband Internet would be treated as a utility like electricity or hot water for apartments. If the bill is passed, existing buildings with 10 or more apartments would have until Jan. 1, 2026, to comply. And newly constructed...

Communicating the Mid-Year Hike for a One-Year Vacancy Lease in the NYC Lease Rider

September 22, 2021    

Q Can you show how to implement the rent guidelines for vacancy leases starting Oct. 1, 2021? The New York City Lease Rider for Rent-Stabilized Tenants (DHCR form RA-LR1) hasn’t been updated since September 2019 and doesn’t show...

Checking Contractors' Insurance Policy Exclusions

September 22, 2021    

The Insider spoke with Jonathan Steward, vice president/producer, O&S Insurance Brokerage Group, to discuss why there are more and more exclusions in contractors’ insurance policies—and how to guard against them.

Insider: New York State...

OTDA Officials Discuss ERAP's Delayed Rollout, Current Progress

August 25, 2021    

On Aug. 10, the state Senate held a hearing with officials from the Office of Temporary and Disability Insurance (OTDA) on the rollout of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

State Comptroller Reports on ERAP Challenges

August 25, 2021    

The Office of the New York State Comptroller recently issued a report on the problems plaguing the state's rent relief program. The report finds funds slow to move and not reaching low-income and minority New Yorkers. The report discusses the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)...

Landlord v. Tenant: August 2021

July 22, 2021    

HARASSMENT

Landlord Didn’t Have Control Over Resident Who Allegedly Harassed Tenant

Tenants sued landlord, claiming breach of warranty of habitability and violations of federal and state housing discrimination laws. The court granted landlord’s request to dismiss...

New Document Required for All Permits in DOB NOW

June 21, 2021    

The DOB’s new property ownership certification for Local Law 160 of 2017 is now available. According to a recent DOB Service Notice, as of June 30, 2021, all applications (except LAAs, electrical, and elevator jobs) will require this form to proceed in DOB NOW, the online platform for...

DOB Announces Construction Site Sweep for Safety Violations

June 21, 2021    

DOB Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca announced on June 1 that teams of DOB enforcement inspectors are mobilizing across the five boroughs to perform safety sweeps of construction sites, to ensure that they are safe for both workers and the public.

State Legislature Passes Bill Extending the J-51 Program

June 21, 2021    

The New York State Senate and Assembly recently passed legislation extending the J-51 property tax exemption and abatement program. The J-51 tax incentive is an as-of-right tax exemption and abatement for residential rehabilitation or conversion to multiple dwellings. J-51 participants are...

DEP Proposes Water Rate Increase for 2022

June 21, 2021    

Last month, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) proposed a water rate increase for all rate payers citywide. DEP proposed a 2.76 percent increase to the water rate in 2022 to the city’s Water Board. Last year, with the pandemic as a backdrop, the DEP recommended freezing...