What's happening
This bill requires landlords to provide tenants with up-to-date written contact information and to promptly update it if it changes.
Why it matters
Improves tenant access and communication. By mandating that landlords provide up-to-date, written contact details, tenants are better equipped to quickly resolve issues like repairs, emergencies, or disputes, rather than being left without a way to reach the property owner.
Applies transparency to LLC-owned properties. The bill specifically requires disclosure when a property is owned by a third party, such as a limited liability company (LLC), making it harder for landlords to obscure their identity or evade tenant concerns behind business entities.
Creates accountability with a rapid update timeline. The requirement that landlords update tenants in writing within three days of any change in contact information means tenants are less likely to encounter outdated or useless contact methods, reducing frustration and delays in urgent situations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Landlords Must Share Contact Info
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
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.
Landlord Contact Info Required
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor Pamela J. Hunter
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5182
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 12, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to requiring contact information of landlords to be furnished to tenants
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. Contact information to be furnished to tenant. Every tenant shall receive at the start of the tenancy a written document containing the most current name, valid phone number, and address able to be used by the tenant to directly contact the landlord and, if the property is owned by a third party such as a limited liability company, the third party that holds the title to the property that is being leased. If any of the contact information furnished becomes inaccurate, a written document shall be provided to every tenant with the updated contact information within three days of the acquisition of the new contact information.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04830-01-9
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 requiring contact information of landlords to be furnished to tenants
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to make it possible for tenants to identify and contact their landlord directly, rather than being forced to work with a management company, when resolution of problems cannot be had through a third party.
Summary of provisions
The bill adds a new § 235-h to the real property law requiring that landlords furnish their contact information to all tenants and that LLC which holds property for rent provide the personal contact information for major stakeholders.
Justification
Currently, absentee landlords can contract with a management company or use an LLC to shield themselves from interfacing with tenants directly. Often, these same properties are the ones with substandard conditions or persistent problems that tenants are unable to resolve on their own.
Forcing landlords to be personally available to tenants provides tenants a final recourse in the event that a management company or LLC fails to adequately address their concern. Given how integral housing is to a person's quality of life, we must consider tenants as more than merely customers. They deserve the right to have direct access to the owner of the building where they live and to have their concerns addressed by the landlord in the event of unresolved issues with a third party owner or management company.
Fiscal impact
None to the State
Legislative history
2017-18: A.5738/S.4847
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.