Committee on Housing and Buildings Meets to Consider Eight Laws

New York City Council’s Committee on Housing and Buildings has jurisdiction over the city’s rent regulation policies and practices, as well as the Department of Buildings (DOB) and Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). The committee met on Oct. 16 to consider various legislation related to housing and building in New York City. Here’s an overview of the wide variety of issues and legislation covered at the hearing.

Int. No. 0342-2018 would amend the NYC Administrative Code and NYC Building Code to require a sign at inaccessible building entrances indicating that a portable ramp is available upon request, provided such a ramp does indeed exist.

Int. No. 0353-2018 would amend the NYC Administrative Code with regard to the provision of email notifications for construction project status updates. It would require the DOB to create a system whereby users of its website could sign up to receive emails whenever a change in status is recorded on construction projects of interest.

Int. No. 0585-2018 would amend the NYC Administrative Code with regard to posting certain information in multiple dwellings containing rent-regulated units. It would require building owners to post a current color photograph of the current janitor in a conspicuous place. At the hearing, HPD expressed its reservations about the actual implementation of such a policy. Many owners outsource their janitorial services to companies that use a large staff of workers, not just one.

It would also require owners to include in their registration statement a statement that either affirms or denies that there are rent-regulated units in the building. It would also require owners to post a notice that includes this information in a conspicuous place within the building.

Int. No. 0780-2018 would amend the NYC Administrative Code to clarify responsibilities of owners and HPD to address indoor asthma allergen hazards. It would amend Local Law 55 of 2018, which deals with landlords’ responsibilities concerning pests, vermin, and indoor allergen hazards and has not gone into effect yet. Specifically, it would remove the phrase “reasonable efforts” from the existing legislation.

Int. No. 0862-2018 would amend the NYC Administrative Code to require the DOB to issue stop-work orders along with notices to revoke work permits. The DOB feels it has the appropriate level of discretion to determine when a stop-work order should be issued and that an increase in stop-work orders, which would result if this legislation becomes law, would produce numerous undesirable results.

According to Patrick Wehle, DOB’s Assistant Commissioner of External Affairs, “The Department does not support this bill, as issuing a stop-work order with every letter of intent to revoke a permit could unnecessarily stop construction work that could otherwise continue in a safe and compliant manner.”

Int. No. 0948-2018 would amend the NYC Administrative Code with regard to the installation of temperature reporting devices in multiple dwellings. It would allow the city to install temperature reporting devices in the 150 class A multiple dwellings with the highest ration of temperature violations to units.

Int. No. 0979-2018 would amend the NYC Administrative Code with regard to community land trusts. Introduced by Council Members Donovan Richards (D-Dist. 31) and Stephen Levin (D-Dist. 7), this bill would add §26-2001 to the Administrative Code and create additional regulatory infrastructure to facilitate interactions between the city and community land trusts.