What's happening
This bill strengthens tenant protections during building demolitions under rent stabilization by requiring relocation assistance, stipends, and stricter proof of intent from owners.
Why it matters
Raises the bar for demolition approvals. Owners must now provide detailed evidence—including approved plans and, when possible, permits from the Department of Buildings—before being allowed to demolish a rent-stabilized building, ensuring demolitions are thoroughly vetted and not used as a loophole to displace tenants.
Expands and clarifies tenant relocation rights. Tenants facing demolition must be offered the option to move into an equivalent or better rent-stabilized unit nearby, or—if a new building is being constructed—receive interim housing at no extra cost until they can return, protecting tenants from sudden or unsafe displacement.
Mandates significant financial support for displaced tenants. Beyond reasonable moving expenses, tenants are entitled to a $5,000 stipend or, if relocated to a more expensive unit, a stipend covering the rent difference for six years. This provides long-term financial stability and helps prevent economic hardship due to forced moves.
Applies protections retroactively and broadly. The new rules cover tenants currently in possession and any ongoing or future legal or administrative proceedings, meaning tenants already facing demolition plans can benefit from these enhanced protections, not just those impacted after the bill becomes law.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Renters in Demolitions
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to housing
- 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.
Protect Renters Facing Demolition
In Senate Committee · Housing, Construction And Community Development · Sponsor Liz Krueger
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
725
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK, L. ROSENTHAL, DINOWITZ, O'DONNELL, COOK, COLTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GOTTFRIED, PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to renewal of a lease under the stabilization code
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph (a) of paragraph 9 of subdivision c of section 26-511 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:
(a) (1) where [he or she] the owner has established to the satisfaction of the division of housing and community renewal, after a hearing at which all parties may present evidence that the subject building is in a substandard or seriously deteriorated condition, and that the owner intends in good faith to demolish the building and [has obtained a permit therefor from the department of buildings] submits proof prior to filing the application with the division of housing and community renewal that plans and if possible, the necessary permits, for the undertaking have been approved by and obtained from the department of buildings. Such application shall be filed at least ninety days prior to the expiration of the lease term; for the purpose of this subparagraph, "demolish" means the complete razing of the entire building, including all exterior walls, in order to construct a new building with the same or greater number of rental housing units;
(2) The order granting the owner's demolition application shall provide that the owner must, at the tenant's option, either: (i) relocate the tenant to an equivalent or superior rent stabilized housing accommodation in a closely proximate area, or if a new residential building is being constructed on the site provide the tenant with suitable interim housing at no additional cost until a unit is available in
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05675-01-9
A. 725 2
the new building; provide that the amount of rent charged for the unit shall be at the same or lower legal regulated rent; and provide the tenant, in addition to reasonable moving expenses, payment of a five thousand dollar stipend, provided the tenant vacates on or before the vacate date required by the final order; or (ii) provide relocation of the tenant to a suitable housing accommodation at a rent in excess of that for the subject housing accommodation; provide the tenant, in addition to reasonable moving expenses, a stipend equal to the difference of the rent charged at the housing accommodation being vacated and the rent charged for the housing accommodation to which the tenant is relocating, multiplied by seventy-two months, provided the tenant vacates on or before the vacate date required by the final order; or (iii) pay the tenant a stipend which shall be the difference between the tenant's current rent and an amount to be calculated using the demolition stipend chart, created by the division of housing and community renewal, multiplied by seventy-two months; or
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any tenant in possession on or after such effective date and to any action or proceeding pending in any court and to any application, complaint, or proceeding pending before an administrative agency on such effective date, as well as to any action or proceeding commenced thereafter; provided, however that the amendments to subparagraph (a) of paragraph 9 of subdivision c of section 26-511 of chapter 4 of title 26 of the administrative code of the city of New York made by section one of this act shall expire on the same date as such law expires and shall not affect the expiration of such law as provided under section 26-520 of such law.
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.