Management Basics

Know Your Heating Obligations as 'Heat Season' Begins

September 24, 2020    

The 2020–2021 “heat season” begins on Oct. 1 and continues through May 31, 2021. As heat season begins and colder weather is around the corner, owners must be aware of the temperature requirements for all apartments. HPD responds to all heat and hot water complaints and, if...

Post Large Building Energy Efficiency Rating Label by Oct. 31

September 24, 2020    

The NYC Benchmarking Law, Local Law 84 of 2009 as amended by Local Law 133 of 2016, requires owners of large buildings to measure their energy and water consumption annually in a process called benchmarking. The law standardizes this process by requiring building owners to enter their annual...

Perform Gas Piping Inspection for Community District 1, 3, 10 Buildings by Dec. 31

August 26, 2020    

On Sept. 13, 2019, the DOB adopted a new Section 103-10 to Title 1 of the Rules of New York City, regarding the periodic inspection of gas piping systems. This was the culmination of a three-year long process to give effect to Local Law 152 of 2016, which requires periodic inspections of “...

Notify Struggling Tenants of Rent Relief Program

July 23, 2020    

The DHCR is currently administering a COVID Rent Relief Program that will provide eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the owner. Applicants won’t need to repay this assistance. Applications will be accepted from July 16 through July 30.

Follow New Procedures for OATH/ECB Hearings

July 23, 2020    

If you’ve received a summons regarding a notice of violation from any city agency, you must follow certain procedures to respond. NYC’s Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings/Environmental Control Board (OATH) is the administrative tribunal that conducts hearings on notices of...

Follow Phase 2 Guidance for Showing Apartments

June 26, 2020    

On June 22, New York City entered Phase 2 of Governor Cuomo’s phased approach to reopen industries and businesses in New York State. As part of Phase 2, real estate and rental-leasing industries are allowed to reopen their workplaces. This means brokerages, property managers, and...

File 2020 Rent Registrations Online by July 31

June 26, 2020    

You must file an Annual Apartment Registration application with the DHCR for every rent-stabilized apartment you own by July 31, 2020, using the DHCR’s online Owner Rent Regulation Application system. As in past years, the penalty for not filing is stiff: You can’t collect a rent...

Facade Amnesty Program Begins July 1 for Limited Time

June 26, 2020    

The DOB’s Facade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP) is offering an amnesty period beginning July 1, 2020. The amnesty period will give owners who didn’t file (No Report Filed - NRF) a Façade Report during Cycle 8 the opportunity to administratively close Cycle 8 with the Cycle 9...

DOB Modifies Tenant Protection Plan Form

June 26, 2020    

Owners anticipating construction work in their occupied buildings must comply with Tenant Protection Plan (TPP) requirements and notices. These requirements came about in 2017 through a package of bills focusing on tenant harassment. At the time, among the bills signed into law was one for an...

DOF Extends RPIE Statements, Storefront Registry Filing Deadline to July 1

April 23, 2020    

The NYC Department of Finance (DOF) requires certain owners of residential properties to file the Real Property Income & Expense Statement (RPIE) every year. The DOF needs income and expense information each year to value your property accurately. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the...

State, DOB Halt Non-Essential Construction Due to COVID Crisis

April 23, 2020    

New York State has halted non-essential construction. On March 27, Governor Cuomo amended the executive order, which required non-essential businesses and nonprofits to limit in-person work to curb COVID-19 transmission to include the suspension of all non-essential construction. Following the...

Follow HSTPA Security Deposit Rules to Minimize Consumer Fraud Complaints

March 19, 2020    

At the beginning of March, to kick off National Consumer Protection Week, New York Attorney General Letitia James released the top 10 consumer fraud complaints her office received in 2019. After analyzing all consumer complaints received statewide throughout 2019, the AG’s office found...