New York: Rent Regulation Expiring Soon

With rent regulation laws expiring June 15, Councilwoman Margaret Chin is urging the state legislature to not only renew the laws, but to close what she sees as “loopholes” that hurt tenants.
New York: Rent Regulation Expiring Soon
Tara MacIsaac
5/9/2011
Updated:
5/10/2011
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/IMG_0115_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/IMG_0115_medium.jpg" alt="RENTER'S ADVOCATE: Councilwoman Margaret Chin (L) discusses her resolution to urge for greater tenant protection under state law. Her colleague, Councilman Joel Rivera sits to her right. (Tara MacIsaac/The Epoch Times)" title="RENTER'S ADVOCATE: Councilwoman Margaret Chin (L) discusses her resolution to urge for greater tenant protection under state law. Her colleague, Councilman Joel Rivera sits to her right. (Tara MacIsaac/The Epoch Times)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-125444"/></a>
RENTER'S ADVOCATE: Councilwoman Margaret Chin (L) discusses her resolution to urge for greater tenant protection under state law. Her colleague, Councilman Joel Rivera sits to her right. (Tara MacIsaac/The Epoch Times)
NEW YORK—With rent regulation laws expiring June 15, Councilwoman Margaret Chin is urging the state legislature to not only renew the laws, but to close what she sees as “loopholes” that hurt tenants.

The state Legislature is expected to renew the laws, but to make little change to them, says the City Council’s Chair of Housing and Buildings Erik Martin Dilan.

City Council convened Monday to discuss rent stabilization and Margaret Chin’s Resolution No. 700, which urges the state to eliminate vacancy decontrol. Landlords can raise the rent by 20 percent each time a unit is vacated. If the rent hits the threshold of $2,000 a month, it is no longer rent-stabilized.

The resolution also calls on Albany to give the city back the power to determine rent regulation laws itself. This power was lost in 1971 under the Urstadt law.

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/IMG_0126_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/IMG_0126_medium.jpg" alt="TENANT TESTIMONY: Maggie Russell-Ciardi (R), executive director of the Tenants and Neighbors Coalition, testifies at a hearing on rent regulation. Councilman Jumaane Williams (L) listens along with other Councilors to her testimony.  (Tara MacIsaac/The Epoch Times)" title="TENANT TESTIMONY: Maggie Russell-Ciardi (R), executive director of the Tenants and Neighbors Coalition, testifies at a hearing on rent regulation. Councilman Jumaane Williams (L) listens along with other Councilors to her testimony.  (Tara MacIsaac/The Epoch Times)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-125445"/></a>
TENANT TESTIMONY: Maggie Russell-Ciardi (R), executive director of the Tenants and Neighbors Coalition, testifies at a hearing on rent regulation. Councilman Jumaane Williams (L) listens along with other Councilors to her testimony.  (Tara MacIsaac/The Epoch Times)
The governor’s office did not respond to inquiries as of press deadline.

According to Chin, Gov. Andrew Cuomo did say he would improve rent regulation laws going into budget hearings in March, a decision he rescinded at that time, saying it was too complex to handle in connection with the budget.

Legislation to renew and strengthen rent laws has already passed the state Assembly, but has yet to gain senate approval. Chin noted in March that senate Republicans without much rent-stabilized housing in their districts are the main obstacle.

Maggie Russell-Ciardi, executive director of the Tenants and Neighbors Coalition listed off the amendments made in the past when rent laws were up for renewal.

In 1997, the 20 percent vacancy bonus “loophole” was created. Permanent decontrol was also established statewide above the $2,000 threshold.

In 2003, the state tightened the Urstadt law, making it so that the city could not provide protection to tenants above and beyond state law. The state also gave landlords the power to raise rent upon lease renewal, rather than vacancy, to the legal regulated level.

“These are really tremendously devastating amendments that have been passed every single time the rent laws have come up for renewal and we’re very concerned that the state Legislature will try to do something like this again,” said Russell-Ciardi.