Author Archives: abogny

Subsidized housing developers sold out private housing owners this week, joining with tenant activists to petition the State Legislature to end luxury decontrol and eliminate preferential rents—regulations that don’t matter to their programs. Members of the New York State Affordable Housing Association … Continue reading →

Tuesday’s blue wave in New York could lead to a battle on rent regulations, with the Governor’s office confirming that he wanted to “advance additional tenant protections, including the elimination of vacancy decontrol and limiting rent increases for building and apartment improvements.” The voters … Continue reading →

New York City, Tuesday, published the first “Speculation Watch List“identifying buildings purchased for less than the median cap rate of all apartment building transactions in each borough. Buildings on the watch list will be subjected to increased inspections and scrutiny to … Continue reading →

Even the de Blasio administration had qualms about proposed commercial rent control legislation at a hearing Monday, but Council Speaker Corey Johnson implied the bill could pass after amendments to exclude larger tenants. The IRS issued proposed rules for new … Continue reading →

The federal judge hearing claims about the New York City Housing Authority’s failure to comply with lead paint rules was not amused by City defense arguments that the condition of the apartments is so poor that tenants must have known … Continue reading →

Two Housing Rights Initiative suits against property owners, both involving deregulation of units in buildings with J-51 benefits, were granted class action status by judges in Manhattan and the Bronx. These are the first cases of more than 40 initiated by HRI … Continue reading →

New York’s City Health and Housing Commissioners gave strong lip service support to the Council’s package of lead poisoning prevention bills at a hearing last week, but the written testimony suggests that virtually all the bills need amendment and some … Continue reading →

Air conditioner charges in rent stabilized and rent controlled apartments with electricity included in the rent will increase to $26.42 per month effective Monday, October 1st. If you have an HVAC repaired and maintained by a heating and cooling service … Continue reading →

The New York City Council holds hearings Tuesday on a package of lead bills, opposed by CHIP and ABO, that would require property owners to abate all apartments on turnover (as opposed to current interim controls), test and abate soil … Continue reading →

State primaries on Thursday could offer a view into what may happen in the November elections. We’ll be watching and will report to you. Zephyr Teachout, endorsed for Attorney General by the New York Times this week, has expressly called … Continue reading →