We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
Owners get more climate protection law details ahead of 2024 deadline.
The DOB recently issued draft regulations to implement Local Law 97 of 2019 (LL97). In 2019, the City Council passed LL97 with ambitious goals to tackle climate change by putting carbon caps on the city’s buildings, the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Since the passage of the law, however, there has been little guidance until now on how owners could achieve the aggressive targets set in the law.
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) recently announced the opening of the public comment period for new proposed rules regarding when to put out garbage for collection. The aim of the new rules is to reduce the number of hours trash and recycling will sit on New York City sidewalks by adjusting the time of day when trash may be placed on the curb. In doing so, the city hopes to keep streets cleaner, discourage the proliferation of rats, and remove tripping hazards for pedestrians during rush hour.
On June 2, the City Council voted on legislation requiring inspections for self-closing doors in residential buildings. This is an additional fire safety measure to prevent fire tragedies, and it complements the recent legislative package that was passed in May and signed into law on June 1. These bills passed by the Council are intended to strengthen fire safety in residences throughout New York City, in the aftermath of the Jan. 9 Twin Parks fire in the Bronx.
On June 7, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law New York State Senate Bill S4937C. This law allows hotels that are already authorized as Class B hotels to rent rooms for permanent residence purposes and unlocks $200 million in state funds to finance the conversions. The bill cites both the lack of housing stock in New York City and underutilized hotel rooms in the wake of the COVID pandemic as reasons for converting hotel rooms into permanent housing. The bill’s authors also anticipate a net increase in tax revenue as empty hotel spaces increase in occupancy.
At a recent City Council hearing, councilmembers questioned fire and housing department leaders on the city’s safety inspections of residential buildings in the wake of a January fire at a high-rise in the Bronx that left 17 people dead. The Bronx apartment building fire, the city's deadliest in decades, has prompted much attention and proposed legislation from councilmembers.
On Nov. 23, 2021, the City Council passed Int. 2312-A, which amends the landlord’s duty to mitigate damages for an early vacancy of a leased residence. Specifically, it limits the fees owners can collect from tenants who vacate before the end of a lease to prepare the property for the next rental. The bill passed unanimously and will go into effect 180 days after becoming law, applying to leases entered into on or after that date.
On Dec. 9, 2021, the City Council voted to approve Int. 2309-A, which requires short-term rentals to register with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement. The bill would for the first time require hosts to register with the city before renting out their homes on a short-term basis or for less than 30 days. It’s intended to prevent the listing of illegal short-term rentals on sites such as Airbnb.
Local Law 152 requires that all buildings with gas piping, except R-3 occupancy buildings (which are mostly one- and two-family dwellings), have their gas piping system inspected at certain intervals by a licensed master plumber (LMP).
On April 29, the New York City Council passed the Tenant Data Privacy Act (TDPA) that would require owners of "smart access" buildings that use keyless entry systems to provide tenants with a data retention and privacy policy.
On March 25, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed Chapter 82 of the Laws of 2021, enacting a new provision codified as Executive Law §170d. This statute requires the New York State Division of Human Rights 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.
RSS