What's happening
This bill directs New York's housing division to study and report on non-rental fees charged by landlords of rent-regulated housing.
Why it matters
Potential to Uncover Hidden Costs. By requiring a formal study of non-rental fees (such as application, amenities, or maintenance charges), the bill could reveal how much tenants are paying beyond rent, helping to expose and quantify hidden or unexpected costs that may financially burden renters in regulated units.
Data-Driven Policy Making. The mandated report would provide lawmakers with concrete data on the frequency, amount, and determination of these fees, enabling more informed decisions about whether further regulation or consumer protections are needed.
Tenant Protections and Transparency. The study could highlight patterns of potentially exploitative fee practices, supporting efforts to improve transparency and fairness for tenants in rent-regulated housing.
Implications for Landlords and the Housing Market. The findings may shape future regulations that impact how landlords operate, potentially affecting their revenue models and altering the dynamics of the rent-regulated housing market in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Landlord Extra Fees
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
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.
Study Landlord Extra Fees
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3356
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 6, 2019
Introduced by Sen. JACKSON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT directing the division of housing and community renewal to study non-rental fees charged by landlords
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The division of housing and community renewal shall prepare a report on non-rental fees imposed by landlords of housing accommodations subject to rent regulations. Such study shall include a description of fees commonly or frequently charged, the amounts of such fees, how fees are determined and any other data or information the division deems pertinent. The division shall submit such report to the legislature by April 1, 2020.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00772-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act directing the division of housing and community renewal to study non-rental fees charged by landlords
Purpose
This bill would require the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) to perform a study on non-rental fees imposed by landlords of housing accommodations subject to rent regulation laws. This study will assist the legislature in dealing with landlords who are using these fees improperly for various reasons.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 requires DHCR to prepare and report a study on non-rental fees imposed by landlords of housing accommodations subject to rent control laws and report the study to the legislature by April 1, 2020.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
Justification
Currently the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) is allowed to determine the amounts that landlords of housing accommo- dations subject to rent control laws may charge tenants for certain non-rental fees. While these surcharges are sometimes allowed in accord- ance with the Operational Bulletin 2005-01 issued by DHCR, many land- lords do not follow the regulations set forth in the Operational Bulle- tin for when the surcharges can be applied. Most of the time, landlords add these surcharges without Meeting any of the conditions set forth in Operational Bulletin 2005-01. A recent survey of rent stabilized tenants indicates that 68% were charged a surcharge for their air conditioner or washing machine in the last year. These surcharges can add hundreds of dollars to a tenant's rent, making rent controlled and rent stabilized apartments unaffordable for low-income New Yorkers.
This study will offer an insight into how these non-rental fees are established, evaluated, and evolve over time.
Legislative history
2017-2018: A.2935 - Referred to Housing
2015-2016: A.1794 - Referred to Housing
2013-2014: A.8288 - Referred to Housing/S.6112 - Referred to Housing, Construction and Community Development
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.