What's happening
This bill creates new first and second degree crimes for owners who harass rent-regulated tenants, including intentionally endangering tenant safety or health.
Why it matters
Introduces significant criminal penalties. for landlords who intentionally harm or endanger rent-regulated tenants to force them out, elevating such acts to felony or misdemeanor status and signaling a shift from civil to criminal liability.
Broadens protections for tenants. by explicitly criminalizing not just physical injury, but also actions that impair habitability or create dangerous conditions—addressing common landlord harassment tactics like neglecting repairs or utilities.
Aims to deter aggressive displacement. of vulnerable tenants by making it riskier for property owners to use harassment as a method of clearing out rent-regulated units, potentially slowing down the loss of affordable housing.
Empowers law enforcement and prosecutors. to intervene more decisively in tenant harassment cases, providing new legal tools to protect individuals who might otherwise face pressure to leave their homes.
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Protect Rent-Regulated Tenants
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History
- Referred to codes
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Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3519
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
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.
LBD04493-01-9
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.