A new law in New York State has changed the rules for landlords, preventing them from simply kicking tenants out of their apartments. Instead, landlords of unregulated apartments must now give thirty days’ notice if they intend to not renew a lease agreement, thus allowing tenants the opportunity to find new lodgings. It also forces them to give thirty days’ notice if they intend to increase the rent by five percent or more.
Prior to the passage of this law, it was entirely legal for a landlord to simply tell a tenant they had no intention of renewing their lease the day the lease originally expired. This left tenants out on the street, struggling to find emergency accommodations while they looked for somewhere else to live. On other occasions, they would raise the rent without explanation or warning, putting a financial strain on tenants who may already be struggling to pay their bills. With the new law, tenants will at least have a month to find somewhere more affordable to live.
These laws primarily affect apartments that aren’t already regulated through rent control laws, known more commonly as unregulated apartments. Tenant rights advocates wanted an even more stringent “good cause eviction” law that would force landlords to automatically renew lease agreements unless they could prove there was “good cause” to evict a tenant, but this failed to gain traction in the legislature. Instead, this new law is seen as a compromise between the stricter rules tenant rights activists wanted, and the more lenient status quo that landlord groups were advocating to maintain. This comes along with a package of other housing reforms that were passed in June, which are generally disfavored by landlords and their advocates.
If you have questions regarding your rights as a landlord or tenant, you should seek advice from an attorney experienced in handling landlord/tenant disputes. Contact the skilled New York City landlord-tenant attorneys at the Law Office of Tanya Hobson-Williams. Please contact us online, toll-free (866) 825-1529 or (718) 210-4744 to discuss your rights as a tenant and the solutions available to you.
