NEW YORK, NY December 05, 2006 —People in rent stabilized are worried about new rules that could cost them money. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports.

The rule changes include allowing landlords to charge tenants for cleaning up lead paint in their apartments. Building owners have long complained that more stringent lead laws are too expensive to comply with.

Poor families are the ones most affected by lead poisoning and some elected officials say the proposed rule would deter them from complaining about it. The Division of Housing and Community Renewal, the state agency considering the changes, held a public hearing yesterday.

The state agency also wants to double security deposits and crack down on tenants who don't use their rent regulated apartments as their primary residence. Landlords say the proposed rules are necessary to protect them from unscrupulous renters.

If the changes are made, housing advocates say they hope the incoming Spitzer administration will overturn them. For WNYC, I'm Cindy Rodriguez.