30 Issues: Rent Laws
In the first week of 30 Issues in 30 Days, Brian examines New York issues that may be in play if the State Senate flips to the Democrats, and that have previously been blocked by a Republican majority and the IDC. First up: New York’s Rent Laws.
Since 1993 New York City has lost over 152,000 rent-regulated apartments because of changes to laws that have made it easier for landlords to bring their rent-regulated apartments into the open market.
“We’ve seen the rent laws gutted every single time they’re up for renewal,” said Jonathan Westin, director of New York Communities for Change, on The Brian Lehrer Show.
But the trend, he hopes, could be about to change.
In 2019, the state’s rent laws—which govern things like rent regulation, tenant harassment and rent vacancy laws—will be up for renewal.
“I think we’re on the verge of taking back the State Senate with Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and we have a chance of making some major changes,” Said Westin. Among those major changes are policies the group has been fighting for, for years, like repealing the Urstadt law, ending high-rent vacancy decontrol, and closing the preferential rent loophole.
The prospect of these policies concerned Jack Freund, vice president of The Rent Stabilization Association, a trade group representing landlords. “We’re being threatened by a progressive takeover in Albany and it is not in the best interest of the city,” Freund told Brian Lehrer. He contended that imposing stronger regulations will not solve New York’s affordability crisis, and proposed the city offer rent subsidies to tenants rather than “tightening the noose” on landlords.
