Requires landlords to provide notice of rental history upon the signing of a vacancy lease

BILL NUMBER:A10814

Title of bill

An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring landlords to provide notice of rental history upon the signing of a vacancy lease

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill will require landlords to furnish new tenants with a rental history itemizing the legal rent-regu- lated price dating back four years.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill will amend the administrative code of the city of New York to add section 26-517.2. Section 26-517.2a will require an owner to furnish for each tenant signing a vacancy lease, a notice in a form promulgated or approved by the state division of housing and community renewal that sets forth the prior legal regu- lated rent, if any, which was in effect for the four years immediately prior to the vacancy, an explanation of how the rental amount provided for in the vacancy lease has been computed above the amount shown in the most recent annual registration statement, and a statement that any increase above the amount set forth in such registration statement is in accordance with the adjustments permitted by the rent guidelines board and this code.

Section 26-517.2b states that upon complaint by the tenant that that he or she was not furnished with a copy of the notice required pursuant to subdivision of this section, the division of housing and community renewal shall order the owner to furnish the notice. If the owner fails to comply within twenty days of such order, the owner shall not be enti- tled to collect any guidelines lease adjustment authorized for any current lease from the commencement date of such lease. The furnishing of the notice by the owner to the tenant or hotel occupant shall result in the elimination, prospectively, of such penalty.

Justification

Rent-regulated dwellings have a unique price that is easily computed through specific formulas. This information should be made available to incoming tenants in rent-regulated dwellings in order to ensure they are not mislead into paying more than the legal maximum.

Owners that cannot provide this information should not be allowed to collect additional rent based on major capitol improvements, previous tenant occupancy or other events that cannot be verified. The nominal financial penalty incurred as a result of an owner's failure to supply necessary documentation will incentivize owners to furnish tenants with accurate and complete rental histories.

Prior legislative history

None

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the amendment to chapter 4 of title 26 of the administrative code of the city of New York made by section one of this act shall expire on the

same date as such law expires and shall not affect the expiration of such law as provided under 26-520 of such law.