Requires notification to certain tenants of the senior citizen rent increase exemption program and the disability rent increase exemption program on monthly rent bills

Title of bill

An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to notifying certain tenants of the senior citizen rent increase exemption program and the disability rent increase exemption program

Purpose

To ensure that eligible tenants who qualify for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs are made aware of such benefits with their annual lease.

Summary of provisions

Section one of this bill amends subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the Real Property Tax Law by adding a new paragraph i which provides that the entity that administers the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program (SCRIE) and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption Program (DRIE) has to develop informational material describing eligibility for and benefits of both these programs, and how more information can be obtained for these programs. This information must be provided to landlords of housing accommodations subject to the local emergency housing rent control act, the emergency tenant protection act of 1974, the emergency housing rent control law and the rent stabilization law of 1969.

This paragraph further provides that any landlord subject to these specific housing accommodating provisions must at least once annually, include with a new lease and all renewal leases delivered to any occupant of those accommodations, provide the informational material that describes eligibility for and the benefits of the SCRIE program and the DRIE program.

Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law, provided, however, that the amendments to subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the Real Property Tax Law made by section one of this act shall not affect the expiration of such section and shall be deemed to expire therewith.

Justification

The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) Programs are wildly successful programs put in place to protect one of the most vulnerable groups of tenants, the elderly and disabled. This program has kept countless seniors in their homes as rent continues to increase exponentially across the city. Yet, too often seniors and people with disabilities are unaware of their options to apply for these programs.

This bill would require landlords to notify their rent-regulated tenants with their annual lease of the existence of the SCRIE and DRIE programs and to provide information on how to access information about the programs.

Legislative history

New Bill

Fiscal implications

None to the State

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law, provided, however, that the amendments to subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the real property tax law made by section one of this act shall not affect the expiration of such subdivision and shall be deemed to expire therewith.