What's happening
This bill prohibits landlords from collecting rent or evicting tenants for nonpayment if a dwelling is unlawfully occupied, and allows authorities to vacate such premises.
Why it matters
Protects tenants from exploitation. by making it illegal for landlords to collect rent or evict tenants for nonpayment when a dwelling is unlawfully occupied, potentially shielding vulnerable tenants from being taken advantage of in unsafe or illegal housing situations.
Strengthens enforcement power. for local housing authorities, allowing them to vacate dwellings deemed nuisances, overcrowded, or otherwise in violation of housing laws, which could lead to safer, more regulated living conditions.
Creates a strong incentive for landlords to comply with housing codes. , since they cannot profit from illegally occupied units and must bring properties up to code before re-renting, potentially improving the overall quality of rental housing.
May lead to displacement but also improved standards. , as authorities can force premises to be vacated if not up to code, affecting current occupants but aiming to ensure future tenants have safer housing.
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Who cares
Owners of unlawfully occupied dwellings
The bill would bar them from recovering rent or pursuing possession for nonpayment of that rent during occupancy that violates section 302 of the Multiple Residence Law.
Tenants in unlawfully occupied dwellings
The bill would protect them from rent collection and nonpayment possession actions for the period of unlawful occupancy, but their dwellings could be ordered vacated.
Departments enforcing the Multiple Residence Law
The bill would authorize them to order dwellings vacated for statutory nuisances, overcrowding or unlawful construction, alteration or occupancy, and bar reoccupancy until compliance with the law.
Headline styles
No Rent for Illegal Units
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Signed chap.444
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 56–4
- 3rd reading cal.643
- Substituted for S2576
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.280
- Reported
- Reported referred to codes
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to housing
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
No Rent for Illegal Buildings
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jamaal Bailey
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1646
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 16, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER, BARRON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the multiple residence law, in relation to unlawful occupation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The multiple residence law is amended by adding a new section 302-a to read as follows:
§ 302-a. Unlawful occupation. 1. If any dwelling or structure be occupied in whole or in part for human habitation in violation of section three hundred two of this article, no rent shall be recovered by the owner of such premises for said period, and no action for possession of said premises for nonpayment of such rent shall be maintained therefor.
2. The department charged with the enforcement of this chapter may cause to be vacated any dwelling or any part thereof which contains a nuisance as defined in section three hundred five of this article, or is occupied by more families or persons than permitted in this chapter, or is erected, altered or occupied contrary to law. Any such dwelling shall not again be occupied until it or its occupancy, as the case may be, has been made to conform to law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04979-01-9
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.