What's happening
This bill requires landlords to provide tenants a "Renters' Bill of Rights" rider with every new or renewed lease, detailing both parties' rights and duties.
Why it matters
Empowers tenants with clear, accessible information. by requiring landlords to provide a standardized summary of both parties’ rights and duties at every lease signing or renewal—helping tenants understand legal protections and obligations without needing to decipher complex lease language.
Enhances transparency regarding rent regulation and dispute resolution. , as the rider must explicitly mention any applicable rent control or regulation, as well as identify the appropriate administrative or judicial bodies where tenants can take complaints or disputes.
Prioritizes readability and comprehension. by mandating that the required rider be in a larger typeface than the lease itself and conform to state standards for plain-language contracts—making it harder for landlords to bury important information in fine print.
Could reduce misunderstandings and legal disputes. between landlords and tenants, since both parties have a clear, written summary of the rules governing their relationship—potentially saving time, money, and stress for New Yorkers in rental housing.
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Who cares
Landlords
They would have to provide a rights-and-duties rider with new and renewal leases, print it in larger type than the lease and add a bold notice on the lease’s first page.
Tenants signing new or renewal leases
They would receive information about their rights and duties, relevant rent control or regulation and where to bring landlord-tenant disputes.
Administrative bodies and courts handling landlord-tenant disputes
The rider would have to identify the appropriate administrative or judicial body for hearing and deciding potential disputes.
Headline styles
Require Landlord-Tenant Rights Notice
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
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.
Require Landlord-Tenant Rights Document
In Assembly Committee · Housing · Sponsor J. Gary Pretlow
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5542
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 6, 2019
Introduced by Sen. STEWART-COUSINS -- 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 a landlord to furnish to each tenant signing a new or renewal lease a rider describing the rights and duties of landlords and 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 223-c to read as follows:
§ 223-c. Renters' Bill of Rights. 1. Each landlord subject under this article shall furnish to each tenant either renewing or entering into a lease, a rider describing the rights and duties of the contracting parties. The lease shall have in bold print appearing on the first page the following: "Attached to this lease is a 'Renters' Bill of Rights' with the pertinent rules and regulations governing the rights and duties of landlords and tenants." Such rider shall include information regarding relevant rent control or regulation, as well as the appropriate administrative or judicial body for hearing and determining potential disputes between landlord and tenant.
2. The rider shall appear in larger type than the lease and shall conform to the intent of section 5-702 of the general obligations law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04959-01-9
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 a landlord to furnish to each tenant signing a new or renewal lease a rider describing the rights and duties of landlords and tenants
Purpose
To provide an additional protection to tenants by supplying them with a "Renters Bill of Rights," which will describe the rights and duties of tenants and landlords.
Summary of provisions
This bill would add a new section 223-c to the Real Property Law which would require the landlord to furnish a rider to either a new or renewed lease, describing the rights and duties of both parties. The first page of the lease shall so state that the "Renters Bill of Rights" is attached. The rider shall be printed in larger type than the lease and shall conform to the intent of Section 5-702 of the General Obligations Law.
Justification
There are numerous tenants who are unaware of their rights as renters. In addition, many times a conflict arises as a result of ignorance on the part of both the tenant and the landlord. By issuing a "Renters Bill of Rights," the communication between renters and landlords will be facilitated. Also, this will provide tenants with added knowledge in reference to the laws that govern the dwelling that they rent.
Legislative history
2017-2018 - S.2970 - Died Judiciary 2015/2016 - S.2241 - Died Judiciary 2013/2014 - S.1168 - Died Judiciary 2011/2012 - S.2827 - Died Judiciary 2009/2010 - S.3537 - Died Judiciary
Fiscal implications
None.
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.