What's happening
This bill creates first and second degree offenses for owners who harass rent regulated tenants, with penalties up to a class E felony.
Why it matters
Strengthens tenant protections by establishing clear criminal penalties for landlords who harm or endanger rent-regulated tenants in an effort to force them out, making such actions subject to felony or misdemeanor charges.
Targets both physical violence and more subtle forms of harassment, such as deliberately making living conditions unsafe or uninhabitable, recognizing that intimidation can take many forms beyond direct assault.
Creates a stronger deterrent against landlord harassment, aiming to reduce illegal evictions and preserve affordable housing by making it riskier for owners to engage in coercive tactics.
Signals a legislative commitment to supporting vulnerable tenants, potentially improving trust in the legal system and encouraging tenants to report abuses they might otherwise endure in silence.
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Who cares
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Crack Down on Tenant Harassment
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2368
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 18, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to harassment of a rent regulated tenant
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 241.05 of the penal law, as added by chapter 116 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows: § 241.05 Harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the first degree.
An owner is guilty of harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the first degree when with intent to cause a rent regulated tenant to vacate a housing accommodation, such owner:
1. With intent to cause physical injury to such tenant, causes such injury to such tenant or to a third person; or
2. Recklessly causes physical injury to such tenant or to a third person.
Harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the first degree is a class E felony.
§ 2. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 241.03 to read as follows: § 241.03 Harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree.
An owner is guilty of harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree when, with the intent to cause a rent regulated tenant to vacate a housing accommodation, such owner intentionally impairs the habitability of a housing accommodation, or creates or maintains a condition, which endangers the safety or health of the dwelling's tenant.
Harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided however that the provisions of this act shall not affect the expiration and repeal of article 241 of the penal law pursuant to subdivision 6 of section 46 of chapter 116 of the laws of 1997, as amended, and shall expire and be deemed repealed therewith.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03414-01-7
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.