New York City has dodged a bullet on proposed Small Area Fair Market Rents, for now, under a final rule issued by HUD this week. The use of average rents by zip code to set Fair Market Rents, instead of metro area averages, would have drastically reduced Section 8 rents in poor neighborhoods, but arguments by CHIP, ABO and many other owner and tenant organizations prevailed. The rule will not apply to areas with less than a 4% vacancy rate.
The City Council, Wednesday, passed a package of bills aimed at potential gas leaks. The measures, which now go to the Mayor for signature, will require new lease notices to tenants on what to do if they suspect a gas leak beginning six months after enactment. There will also be a requirement for gas detectors to be installed in apartments per rules to be determined by the Department of Buildings. Beginning in 2019, there will be a requirement for inspection of visible gas lines and testing with a portable gas combustion detector every five years. And, there will be new requirements developed for people who do “gas work.”
It turns out the punishment for a tenant harassing a landlord is a court order not to do it again. The New York Post reported this week that a State Supreme Court judge barred a tenant at the Whitehouse Hotel from commencing any more pro se actions against the building owner after 23 unsuccessful actions in seven years.
Mayor de Blasio, Wednesday, signed an executive order assigning enforcement of the Airbnb bill to the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement.
In this week’s episode of as the 421-a turns, it appears that the deal between the Governor, REBNY, and the Building Trades provides for a 35 year tax abatement for 300 plus unit projects subject to wage minimums, but only 25 years for smaller developments. There is still no actual bill language to review and action before the next legislative session beginning in January seems unlikely.