The New York City Council recently voted in favor of creating a pilot program to expand the city’s housing stock by facilitating the creation of basement apartments in East New York. This program would also aid eligible property owners with low-cost loans. While modest in its initial scope...
City and state legislation recently was introduced that would regulate security deposits on apartment rentals. State Senator Brad Holyman, who represents much of Downtown and Midtown Manhattan, is a co-sponsor of the state legislation. And Councilmembers Carlina Rivera and Keith Powers...
Governor Cuomo recently announced the launch of NYS Rent Connect, a new online service that modernizes and simplifies New Yorkers' interaction with the rent regulation system. It provides quick access to forms and information for tenants and building owners of rent-stabilized and rent-...
The de Blasio administration recently announced that residential evictions by marshals declined 37 percent since 2013, with approximately 18,000 evictions in 2018 compared to nearly 29,000 evictions in 2013. In 2018 alone, evictions decreased 14 percent, with 3,000 households and more than 8,000...
Under Local Law 55 of 2018, the Asthma-Free Housing Act, owners are required to inspect units annually for indoor allergen hazards, such as mice, cockroaches, rats, and mold. The City Council recently passed legislation that made several changes to the law, which became effective on Jan. 19,...
New York City recently sued Metropolitan Property Group (MPG) along with a number of associated entities and people for turning at least 130 apartments across 35 residential buildings, including one entire building in East Harlem, into illegal short-term rentals primarily through Airbnb....
New York YIMBY recently issued its annual construction report, which includes all new development job applications filed with the Department of Buildings (DOB) from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2018. In 2018, the total number of multifamily units filed with the DOB increased 70 percent...
Mayor de Blasio vowed to create new protections for tenants in his sixth annual State of the City address, a sweeping speech focused on the difficulty of city living. During the speech he announced the creation of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants. De Blasio created...
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., recently proposed pairing new rent restrictions with a tax-break for property owners. The plan is intended to end the threat of sudden, significant rent increases in regulated apartments where tenants currently enjoy preferential rents and compensate...
The NYU Furman Center recently released a policy brief on New York City’s Universal Access to Counsel (UAC) program, which guarantees legal representation for income-eligible tenants facing eviction in Housing Court. In 2017, New York City enacted the first legislation in the country...
State Senator Brian Kavanagh has been appointed chair of the Senate’s Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development. This means he will be an influential voice as the Senate, under Democratic control for the first time in nearly a decade, makes a big push for stronger tenant...
The Democrats seized control of the New York State Senate with the recent election by winning eight Republican-held seats. With the victory, Democrats have a decisive majority in the state Senate. Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins is expected to become the Senate majority leader, making her the...
