What's happening
This bill requires landlords outside New York City to provide prospective tenants with the property's bedbug infestation history from the past year.
Why it matters
Enhances tenant protection and transparency. By requiring landlords to disclose bedbug history, prospective tenants can make more informed decisions and potentially avoid health and financial risks associated with infestations.
Covers both units and entire buildings. The bill mandates disclosure not just for the apartment being rented but also for infestations anywhere in the building, giving renters a clearer picture of ongoing or recurring problems.
Extends to co-ops and condos. Applies to sales and rentals in cooperative and condominium buildings, broadening its impact beyond traditional rental apartments and protecting a wider range of home-seekers.
Excludes New York City due to existing laws. The bill specifically targets areas outside NYC, as the city already has similar disclosure requirements, addressing a gap in tenant protections elsewhere in the state.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Disclose Bedbug History to Renters
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2830
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 17, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to providing prospective lessees with the property's bedbug infestation history for the previous year
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The real property law is amended by adding a new section 235-h to read as follows:
§ 235-h. Notice of bedbug infestation history. 1. All prospective lessees shall be furnished with a notice, in a form promulgated or approved by the state division of housing and community renewal, that sets forth the property's bedbug infestation history for the previous year.
2. Information shall include any bedbug infestation of the premises to be rented by the prospective tenant and the building in which the premises are located.
3. The provisions of this section shall not apply to cities with a population of one million or more.
4. This section shall apply to, but not be limited to, co-op sales and co-op and condo rentals.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law. Provided, however, that the commissioner of the state division of housing and community renewal may take any action necessary for the timely implementation of this act on or before the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05899-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the real property law, in relation to providing prospective lessees with the property's bedbug infestation history for the previous year
Purpose or general idea of bill
To allow tenants the opportunity to examine the facts regarding the bedbug infestation history of a building, condo or an apartment within the past year in order to make an educated determination about the health and safety of the property.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: The real property law is amended by adding a new section 235-h, requiring that prospective lessees shall be furnished with a notice outlining the property's bedbug infestation history for the previous year. Information shall include the premises to be rented and the building in which the premises is located.
Justification
While prospective tenants in New York City are now legally entitled to know if an individual apartment or building has been infested with bedbugs within the past year, other municipalities do not enjoy this protection. This legislation would correct this inequality by expanding the protections of the 2010 Bedbug Disclosure Act to all New Yorkers.
Prior legislative history
2015-2016: S.528 - Referred to Judiciary 2013-2014: S.5472 - Referred to Judiciary 2011-2012: A.5177
Effective date
The 60th day after this act shall become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.