NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6000
SPONSOR: Epstein TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to the subdivision of rent stabilized apartments
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill prevents landlords from subdividing apartments with the intent
of removing them from rent stabilization provisions. It requires commu-
nities to be notified of possible subdivision.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1, Section 26-512 of the administrative code adds a section G,
making it illegal to subdivide apartments to take them out of rent
stabilization or rent regulation. In the event an apartment is subdi-
vided, this division will not disqualify either apartment from the
rights they have under this section of the administrative code. Notifi-
cation of subdivision shall be provided to tenants, local community
boards, and city and state representatives 90 days before the work
begins.
JUSTIFICATION:
With housing costs higher than ever, it is beneficial to landlords to
find new ways to charge tenants more rent. One way they do this is by
subdividing apartments, and creating a new apartment that is no longer
rent stabilized, rent controlled, or rent regulated. In this way, they
exacerbate the housing crisis and prevent the creation of more afforda-
ble housing. This bill would make it illegal for apartments to be subdi-
vided for this purpose, allowing any subdivision, as long as it has the
previous rights the building had before a subdivision.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A5237 : 2019-20
2017-2018: referred to housing
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6000
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 4, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EPSTEIN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to the subdivision of rent stabilized apartments
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 26-512 of the administrative code of the city of
2 New York is amended by adding a new subdivision f to read as follows:
3 f. It shall be unlawful for any person to subdivide, or otherwise
4 change the layout of any housing accommodation regulated by this chap-
5 ter, or the regulations promulgated thereunder, with the intent to cause
6 a surrender or waiver of any rights under this chapter, or the regu-
7 lations promulgated thereunder.
8 (1) In the event a person does subdivide, or otherwise change the
9 layout of such housing accommodations, such subdivision shall not
10 disqualify such housing accommodations from the rights under this chap-
11 ter or the regulations promulgated thereunder.
12 (2) Any person with plans to subdivide, or otherwise change the layout
13 of such housing accommodations shall notify the tenants of such housing
14 accommodations, local community boards, and city and state represen-
15 tatives of such plans no less than ninety days before work is to begin.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the amend-
17 ments to section 26-512 of chapter 4 of title 26 of the administrative
18 code of the city of New York made by section one of this act shall
19 expire on the same date as such law expires and shall not affect the
20 expiration of such law as provided under section 26-520 of such law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10243-01-1
