Prohibits landlords from including incorrect information relating to rent decontrol in certain leases and renewals thereof; imposes a violation punishable by a fine of $1000 for a violation by a landlord; requires the standardization of certain notices pertaining to units subject to the Affordable New York Housing Program.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
659
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL, TAYLOR, SIMONE -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to prohibiting
landlords from including incorrect information relating to rent decon-
trol in certain leases and renewals thereof and requires the standard-
ization of certain notices pertaining to units subject to the Afforda-
ble New York Housing Program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (f) of subdivision 2 of
2 section 421-a of the real property tax law, as amended by chapter 289 of
3 the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
4 (ii) with respect to units which become subject to the provisions of
5 this section after the effective date of this subparagraph, such tax
6 benefit period as provided in the opening paragraph of this paragraph or
7 applicable law or act shall have expired and either each lease and
8 renewal thereof for such unit for the tenant in residence at the time of
9 such decontrol has included a notice in at least twelve point type
10 informing such tenant that the unit shall become subject to such decon-
11 trol upon the expiration of such tax benefit period as provided in the
12 opening paragraph of this paragraph or applicable law or act and states
13 the approximate date on which such tax benefit period as provided in the
14 opening paragraph of this paragraph is scheduled to expire; or such unit
15 becomes vacant as provided under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.
16 Neither a landlord nor any person acting on behalf of the landlord shall
17 include incorrect or misleading information in any notice provided
18 pursuant to this subparagraph. A landlord or any person acting on
19 behalf of the landlord who willfully includes information they know or
20 reasonably know to be misleading or incorrect information in any notice
21 provided pursuant to this subparagraph or fails to provide the standard-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01952-01-5
A. 659 2
1 ized rider pursuant to paragraph (f-1) of this subdivision is guilty of
2 a violation punishable by a fine of one thousand dollars.
3 § 2. Subdivision 2 of section 421-a of the real property tax law is
4 amended by adding a new paragraph (f-1) to read as follows:
5 (f-1) The commissioner of housing and community renewal shall stand-
6 ardize the notice to be provided by landlords to their tenants pursuant
7 to subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (f) of this subdivision. Such notice
8 shall be printed in at least twelve point type and shall include but not
9 be limited to the following language:
10 421-a Standard Rider Fact Sheet
11 Any dwelling unit within an eligible site that receives tax benefits
12 under section 421-a of the New York State Real Property Tax Law will
13 remain rent stabilized for a period of time depending on a variety of
14 factors, including the location of the unit, the commencement of
15 construction and the affordability in the project. Failure to provide
16 the initial standardized rider may result in the unit remaining rent
17 stabilized for the duration of the tenancy. Specific details related to
18 your unit are listed on the next sheet. While your unit receives 421-a
19 tax benefits, it will be subject to rent stabilization. New York State's
20 rent regulation laws provide tenants in rent-stabilized apartments with
21 a variety of legal rights and protections. The owner of your building
22 must provide you with a rent-stabilized lease when you first move in and
23 also each time you renew your lease for your choice of either a one or
24 two year term, for as long as your apartment remains stabilized.
25 You are entitled to continuous lease renewals while your apartment is
26 rent stabilized. When you renew your lease, your rent may only be
27 increased by an amount determined by New York State's rent regulation
28 laws, which may be found by visiting (enter web address), and permitted
29 by applicable tax benefit laws.
30 Rent increases for rent-stabilized tenants are determined by the New
31 York City Rent Guidelines Board, and generally, may only increase by a
32 specified amount within a one-year or two-year lease term. For more
33 information, please visit (enter web address) or call (enter number).
34 Rent-stabilized tenants are also entitled to assistance by the New York
35 State Homes and Community Renewal by visiting (enter web address) or
36 calling (enter number).
37 421-a Rider - Unit Number
38 As a rent-regulated tenant, your rights are, in part, determined by
39 421-a of the New York State Real Property Tax Law. For more information,
40 you may contact New York State Housing and Community Renewal by calling
41 (enter number) or visiting (enter web address) or the New York City
42 Department of Housing Preservation and Development by calling (enter
43 number) or visiting (enter web address).
44 The first rent as of (date of initial lease commencement) for (unit
45 apartment number) is (amount).
46 Because (unit number) receives a 421-a tax abatement, it will be rent
47 regulated until at least MM/DD/YYYY.
48 Construction commenced on your building, located at (address) on
49 MM/DD/YYYY.
50 Construction was completed on MM/DD/YYYY.
51 On (MM/DD/YYYY specific to tenant), your landlord can begin to increase
52 the rent for unit number by 2.2% each year.
53 The 421-a benefits for (unit number) expire on (MM/DD/YYYY). After the
54 expiration of the 421-a tax abatement, your unit will ___ (either remain
55 rent-stabilized for the duration of your tenancy or continue to be
56 protected due to additional programs outlined below).
A. 659 3
1 (Unit number) also receives (list any other city, state, federal
2 affordability program) and (the impact that has on the unit's continuing
3 affordability, the date on which those benefits expire and the impact of
4 the expiration of those benefits on the unit).
5 If you believe that any of the information contained in this rider is
6 incorrect, contact New York State Homes and Community Renewal by calling
7 (enter number) or visiting (enter web address) or the New York City
8 Department of Housing Preservation and Development by calling (enter
9 number) or visiting (enter web address).
10 § 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
11 have become a law and shall apply to all leases entered into, renewed or
12 extended on and after such effective date. Effective immediately the
13 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
14 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
15 to be made and completed on or before such date.
