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

Eviction Moratorium Extended Through August

May 20, 2021    

On May 5, Governor Cuomo signed a measure passed by the New York State Legislature that extends a moratorium on evictions through Aug. 31. The law extends the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020, which was passed in December, for an additional four months. The...

City Council Examines De Blasio’s $92.3B Preliminary Budget

March 19, 2021    

The New York City Council recently began its examination of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s preliminary budget for the 2022 fiscal year, which begins July 1. At $92.3 billion, it’s almost $3 billion less than this year’s budget. The mayor’s preliminary budget came out at a time of...

State Eviction Moratorium Pause Ends

March 19, 2021    

The COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020, signed by the governor on Dec. 28, 2020, suspended eviction and foreclosure proceedings for 60 days to give renters and homeowners the opportunity to submit a hardship declaration. The suspension ended Feb. 26.

Evictions Drop 80% in 2020

March 19, 2021    

A total of 3,059 tenants were evicted from New York City apartments in all of 2020, according to recent data provided by the city’s Department of Investigation (DOI). The data was compiled by DOI from reports submitted by city marshals, who are charged with enforcing court orders,...

Landlord v. Tenant: April 2021

March 19, 2021    

EVICTION

Court Must Delay Eviction Under COVID Emergency Law

Landlord sued to evict tenant for nonpayment of rent. The trial court ruled for landlord, issued an eviction warrant, but delayed execution on the warrant until Jan. 1, 2021, based on the 2020 Tenant Safe Harbor Act....

Landlord v. Tenant: March 2021

February 19, 2021    

BUILDING VIOLATIONS

Court Conducts Virtual Inspection of Tenant’s Apartment

Tenant sued landlord in housing court, claiming various apartment conditions required repair. HPD inspected the unit and issued violations. Landlord agreed to abate the violations and agreed upon...

Landlord v. Tenant: February 2021

January 22, 2021    

EVICTION

Court Issues Eviction Warrant Under DRP 213 for Pre-Pandemic Case

Landlord sued to evict tenant for nonpayment of rent in October 2019. Landlord and tenant, represented by an attorney, signed a settlement agreement in December 2019. Tenant agreed to pay back rent due,...

City Council Passes Bill to Facilitate Opening of New Buildings

December 18, 2020    

On Dec. 10, 2020, the New York City Council passed Intro. 2033, creating Interim Certificates of Occupancy (ICOs). Certificates of Occupancy are government documents that indicate the legal use and occupancy of buildings.

Cuomo Announces Executive Order to Help Needy Renters

December 18, 2020    

In May, the state legislature passed the Emergency Rent Relief Act of 2020 to help low-income renters make their monthly rent payments for up to four months. The program was funded by $100 million of federal money. Critics claimed the legislation enabling the act was written far too narrowly,...

NYC Public Advocate Reveals 2020 List of City’s Worst Landlords

December 18, 2020    

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams recently released the annual Worst Landlord Watchlist, which catalogues the 100 most egregiously negligent landlords in New York City as determined by widespread, repeated, and unaddressed violations in buildings on the list. The New York City Housing Authority (...

Must You Inspect for Lead Paint When There’s No Child or Peeling Paint in Apartment?

November 20, 2020    

Q Under the new lead legislation, if an apartment is presumed to have lead, but there is no peeling paint and no child living in the apartment, do you have to have it inspected? If lead is found, what do you have to do?

District Attorney Candidate Wants to Prosecute Owners for IAI Fraud

October 26, 2020    

Diana Florence has joined the crowded field challenging Cyrus Vance, the incumbent District Attorney of New York County. Florence is one of nine candidates challenging incumbent DA Cyrus Vance in a primary race that will culminate next June 2021. She began her career as a prosecutor 25 years ago...