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Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Sabrina Kraus recently granted class action certification to past and present tenants in 11 buildings who have sued their landlords. They are accused of “systemic evasion of the rent regulations” and, according to the judge, the tenants showed in detail a “methodical attempt to illegally inflate rents and evade the requirements of rent-stabilization” [Maddicks v. Big City Properties, LLC].
New York State Attorney General Letitia James recently announced that her office had secured $4 million from a group of 29 New York City landlords after uncovering an illegal kickback scheme by the management companies they employed to deregulate hundreds of rent-stabilized apartments in New York City. Most of the buildings were either in Upper Manhattan or in Brooklyn, mainly in Flatbush and Brighton Beach.
New York Attorney General Letitia James recently announced a settlement with Ink Property Group, owner of dozens of NYC apartment buildings. As part of the settlement, Ink will pay up to $1.75 million to preserve affordable housing, and over $400,000 in restitution to tenants.
Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) Executive Director Christian J. Klossner recently announced a new lawsuit to shut down an illegal short-term rental operation at a building located in Turtle Bay.
Last March, Governor Cuomo signed into law a new provision requiring the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR) to issue regulations requiring housing providers “to provide notice to all tenants and prospective tenants … of their rights to request reasonable modifications and accommodations” for persons with disabilities. Although this law became effective last year, enforcement of the notice requirement was delayed until DHR promulgated its rules. On May 18, DHR finally adopted the rules.
Twenty-three owners and apartment brokers recently agreed to enact reforms to resolve a lawsuit alleging they routinely turned away prospective tenants seeking to use federal vouchers to supplement their rent. Originally filed in March 2022, the lawsuit claimed that 88 owners and brokers in the city had repeatedly rejected tenants with Section 8 vouchers in possible violation of state and local housing laws.
On April 27, the DOB announced the return of two programs that will help building owners ensure the safety of their buildings without financial penalties. The two citywide initiatives — the No-Penalty Business Accessory Sign Inspection Program and the No-Penalty Deck and Retaining Wall Inspection Program — will give property owners throughout the five boroughs assurance about the condition of their properties, while providing valuable guidance on proper maintenance.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently signed Executive Order 12 to strengthen fire safety enforcement and outreach in the aftermath of the tragic Twin Parks apartment fire in January. The executive order will increase coordination between Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) inspectors to identify safety violations earlier and increase fire safety compliance. FDNY and HPD will also launch a broad campaign to educate New Yorkers on fire safety.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams recently announced that the city has filed a lawsuit against Moshe Piller, an owner who has amassed more than 1,900 violations across 15 rent-stabilized buildings he owns throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. Piller is ranked number 28 on the NYC public advocate’s 2021 “Worst Landlord Watchlist.” The city’s lawsuit seeks to compel Piller to repair his properties or face tens of millions of dollars in civil penalties.
Councilmember Peirina Sanchez, the new chair of the City Council's Committee on Housing and Buildings, said in a recent radio interview she plans to focus on code enforcement at future committee hearings. She is aiming to look at how city agencies respond to unsafe living conditions in apartments across the five boroughs. Sanchez served as a housing advisor to Mayor Bill de Blasio from 2018 to 2020.
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