Requires an annual inspection and audit process which shall review five percent of individual apartment improvement notifications for rent stabilized apartments outside of the city of New York; requires additional audits where violations are found.
Impact
If passed, A08898 would reinforce landlord accountability by requiring thorough inspections of improvement claims. The legislation aims to protect tenants from potential rental overcharges linked to undocumented or exaggerated property enhancements. By formalizing the auditing process and instituting penalties for non-compliance, the bill responses to growing concerns over tenant exploitation in the housing market. This change is particularly significant as it would hold landlords accountable for their obligations under existing law, thus potentially reshaping landlord-tenant interactions.
Summary
Bill A08898 proposes amendments to the Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 and the Emergency Housing Rent Control Law. The bill aims to enhance tenant protections by instituting an annual inspection and audit process for rent-regulated apartments located outside of New York City. Specifically, the bill mandates that five percent of individual apartment improvement notifications be reviewed annually to ensure compliance with existing regulations by landlords. This is intended to prevent landlords from willfully overcharging tenants for purported improvements that have not been substantiated.
Contention
The bill has generated some debate among stakeholders in the housing sector. Proponents argue that it is a necessary step to safeguard tenant rights and ensure fair treatment within the rental market. They emphasize the importance of transparency and accountability in property management as a means to curb abuses linked to major capital improvements. Conversely, opponents may express concerns over the increased regulatory burden that could arise from these auditing requirements on landlords. This tension mirrors broader discussions about the balance of power between property owners and tenants, particularly in high-demand rental markets.
Same As
Requires an annual inspection and audit process which shall review five percent of individual apartment improvement notifications for rent stabilized apartments outside of the city of New York; requires additional audits where violations are found.
Provides for an alternative hardship allowance for landlords in New York city rent controlled apartments which allows a hardship rent increase where a building's annual net income is less than 8.5 percent of the equalized assessed value.
Requires the department of health to conduct 40% of its inspections on nursing homes outside of business hours; requires department of health inspections of nursing homes to be conducted without prior notice to a nursing home; requires an annual nursing home inspection report.
Requires the department of health to conduct 40% of its inspections on nursing homes outside of business hours; requires department of health inspections of nursing homes to be conducted without prior notice to a nursing home; requires an annual nursing home inspection report.
Requires enhanced federal medical assistance percentage funds be directly shared with the counties and the city of New York; requires the comptroller examine and audit all funds received from the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage and the distributions made to counties and the city of New York.
Requires enhanced federal medical assistance percentage funds be directly shared with the counties and the city of New York; requires the comptroller examine and audit all funds received from the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage and the distributions made to counties and the city of New York.
Requires the inspection of non-fireproof buildings every three years; requires compliance with the New York city housing maintenance code and the New York city construction codes; requires those dwellings not in compliance with such code at the time of inspection to make repairs or improvements necessary to comply with such standards within six months of such inspection, or a lien shall be placed upon the dwelling.
Requires the inspection of non-fireproof buildings every three years; requires compliance with the New York city housing maintenance code and the New York city construction codes; requires those dwellings not in compliance with such code at the time of inspection to make repairs or improvements necessary to comply with such standards within six months of such inspection, or a lien shall be placed upon the dwelling.
Provides additional enforcement of housing maintenance code violations in the city of New York; requires the department of housing preservation and development to produce a list of owners/landlords with multiple violations; directs HPD to commence proceedings to be appointed as the administrator of buildings with multiple, longstanding violations; provides additional penalties.