Limits the amount of rent increase after the vacancy of a housing accommodation

1 Co-sponsor

• José Peralta

Title of bill

An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York and the emergency tenant protection act of nineteen seventy-four, in relation to limiting rent increase after vacancy of a housing accommodation

Purpose or general idea of bill

The purpose of this bill is to expand tenant protections by reducing the percentage by which rent may be increased upon vacancy.

Summary of specific provisions

This bill would decrease from twenty percent to ten percent the amount a landlord could increase rent upon vacancy and also prohibit a landlord from taking more than one increase in anyone calendar year.

Effects of present law which this bill would alter

This bill would amend paragraph 5-a of subdivision c of section 25-511 of the administrative code of the city of New York, and subdivision (a-1) of section 10 of section 4 of chapter 576 of the laws of 1974, constituting the emergency tenant protection act of nineteen seventy four.

Justification

There continues to be an ongoing housing emergency in many areas of New York State, and especially in New York city. According to the Rent Guidelines Board report "Housing NYC: Rents, Markets and Trends 2000", while New York city experienced a net gain of total units from 1996-1999, the number of rental units declined. In fact, the report states that vacant available rentals fell by almost 17,000 units, or 20.7%, over the last three years, lowering the vacancy rate from 4.01% in 1996 to 3.19% in 1999. Limiting the amount by which rent may be increased upon vacancy will help keep units in the rent regulation system and thus preserve these units in the affordable housing stock.

Prior legislative history

A.4213 in the 2005-06 Session A.10846 in the 2003-04 Session A.2894 in the 2007-08 Session

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None to the State.

Effective date

Immediately.