What's happening
This bill defines "essential services" in housing and prohibits rent increases unless all such services are maintained.
Why it matters
Clarifies tenant protections by specifically defining "essential services". such as repairs, maintenance, utilities, and elevator service—as fundamental components included in rent, making it harder for landlords to cut corners on these basic needs without consequence.
Directly links rent increases to the actual maintenance of essential services. , ensuring that landlords cannot receive higher rent unless they are actively providing all required services at the time the rent increase is considered.
Adds an accountability mechanism. if a building is a fire hazard, dangerous, or in violation of law, rent increases cannot be approved, pushing property owners to maintain safe and healthy living conditions before seeking higher rent.
Allows for exceptions only when higher rent is needed to restore essential services or fix hazards. , but even then, rent increases are strictly contingent on timely correction of those issues, incentivizing prompt and meaningful action from landlords.
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Who cares
Tenants in limited-profit housing
The bill would generally block rent increases unless essential services are maintained and bar increases for housing certified as hazardous, dangerous, detrimental to life or health, or illegally occupied.
Limited-profit housing companies
Companies seeking rent increases would have to demonstrate that essential services are maintained, with an exception for increases needed to restore services or cure hazardous or dangerous conditions within a fixed period.
The housing commissioner and supervising agencies
They would have to condition rent increases on continued essential services and set deadlines for restoration and hazard removal when approving increases under the exception.
Agencies responsible for housing safety
Their certification of fire hazards, continued dangerous conditions, threats to life or health, or unlawful occupancy would generally prevent approval of rent increases.
Headline styles
Tie Rent Hikes to Services
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Ordered to third reading cal.76
- Advanced to third reading cal.151
- Reported
- Referred to housing
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1116
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, MOSLEY, PERRY, SEPULVEDA, RODRIGUEZ -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the private housing finance law, in relation to defining "essential services" and conditioning approval of increase of maximum rentals upon maintenance of all essential services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 12 of the private housing finance law is amended by adding a new subdivision 17 to read as follows:
17. "Essential services". Those essential services which the company furnished or which it was obligated to furnish on the date of occupancy and which were included in the maximum rent for the dwelling accommodations on that date. These may include, but are not limited to the following: repairs and maintenance, the furnishing of light, heat, hot and cold water, and elevator service. This subdivision shall not apply with respect to services which shall have been reduced or discontinued pursuant to the express consent of the division.
§ 2. Section 31 of the private housing finance law is amended by adding a new subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
1-a. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the commissioner or supervising agency shall not approve an increase in the present maximum average monthly rental unless the company or other applicant is found to be maintaining all essential services furnished or required to be furnished as of the date of the issuance of the order authorizing a rent increase and such increase shall be conditioned on the maintenance of such services thereafter. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, no rent increase shall be approved where the appropriate department or agency having jurisdiction certifies the dwelling accommodation is a fire hazard or in a continued dangerous condition or detrimental to life
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02369-01-7
A. 1116 2
or health or is occupied in violation of law. Upon a showing by the company or other applicant that an increase in maximum average monthly rentals is required in order to maintain essential services or to cure any hazardous or dangerous condition then, in such event, the commissioner or supervising agency may approve an increase in such maximum average monthly rentals provided that such increase shall be contingent upon the restoration and continuance of essential services and the removal of hazardous or dangerous conditions within a fixed period of time which shall be as short as reasonably practicable under the circumstances.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.