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As part of the Department of Buildings technology enhancements outlined in its Building One City plan, the DOB recently announced a forthcoming online tool named “Inspection Ready.” According to the DOB, this tool will dramatically simplify compliance and reduce wait times when scheduling appointments for inspections. Features of this new system will include the ability to request and cancel appointments online, as well as view inspection results and documen...
The City Council recently passed three measures meant to protect rent-stabilized tenants from pressure to agree to buyouts or cash payments in return for giving up their apartments. All three measures passed with only one negative vote from Staten Island Republican Councilman Steven Matteo. Here are the bills:
Two years ago, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued a new flood map for the New York City region, one that substantially expanded what’s known as the “100-year floodplain”—areas where there is at least a 1 percent chance of flooding in any given year. The update, which is still subject to final approval, would nearly double the number of structures in the zone to 71,500.
State investigators have launched an investigation into an East Village owner who has been accused of intimidating tenants into vacating their rent-regulated units. The state’s Tenant Protection Unit recently served subpoenas as part of an investigation into claims of tenant harassment.
Faced with a rising number of complaints from tenants, particularly in New York City’s fastest growing neighborhoods, Attorney General Schneiderman, Mayor de Blasio, and Governor Cuomo created a joint Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force in February to investigate and bring enforcement actions, including criminal charges, against owners who harass tenants.
The Democrat-controlled New York State Assembly recently approved legislation to extend and strengthen rent regulations, setting up a battle with the Republican-controlled State Senate. The Assembly’s bill would extend city rent regulations—which expire in June—for another four years. Speaker Carl Heastie (D) praised the legislation as combating “ever-increasing rents” through measures that include the repeal of vacancy decontrol and limiti...
Building on Mayor de Blasio’s “One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City,” the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York City Housing Development Corporation recently announced the new Green Housing Preservation Program to assist owners of small to mid-sized multifamily properties across the city in undertaking energy efficiency and water conservation improvements as well as moderate rehabilitation to improve bui...
Mayor Bill de Blasio recently proposed a sweeping overhaul of the 421-a tax program to spur a new wave of housing with rent-restricted apartments in New York City. The mayor called for tough new provisions in the 421-a program that will expand requirements citywide, double the amount of rent-restricted housing it generates, and ensure tax benefits are granted only when developers agree that new buildings will have a minimum of 25 to 30 percent of their apartments set as...
On May 5, the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) held a preliminary vote on rent increases for rent-stabilized apartments. The chair’s proposal passed by five votes, allowing for 0 to 2 percent increases for one-year leases, 0.5 to 3.5 percent for two-year leases, and 10 percent for sublets. This year’s preliminary vote follows last year’s record low increases. Last year, the board voted to raise rent by 1 percent for one-year lease renewals, and 2.75 percent...
The de Blasio administration has made recent efforts to increase protections for rent-stabilized tenants, including free legal representation for tenants in up to 15 neighborhoods. It’s also launching a new Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force with State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to combat illegal practices that push tenants out of their apartments.
As rent laws come up for renewal on June 15, the mayor’s latest focus has been to call for s...
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