AGENCY TESTIMONY
Concerns about Intro 622: Changes to illegal eviction case handling
0:24:30
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72 sec
HPD expresses concerns about Intro 622, which proposes requiring the housing part of the housing court to hear illegal eviction cases instead of the trial part. The department believes this change could negatively impact both tenants and HPD's enforcement efforts.
- HPD argues that moving illegal eviction cases to the housing part could delay hearings for illegally evicted tenants
- The change could affect the housing part's capacity to address HPD's enforcement litigation and other tenant cases
- There are questions about whether amending the Housing Maintenance Code would be binding on the New York State Office of Court Administration
- The Law Department is reviewing the legal implications of the proposed change
AnnMarie Santiago
0:24:30
Illegal eviction cases currently are adjudicated in the trial part of housing court, which is appropriate given the urgency of the nature of eviction.
0:24:39
Our understanding of intro 622 is that this bill would require the housing part of the housing court to hear illegal eviction cases instead of the trial part.
0:24:50
HPD has concerns about this proposed change.
0:24:53
The housing part hears actions and proceedings involving the enforcement of housing standards and tenant harassment brought by tenants in HPD.
0:25:01
Requiring illegal eviction cases to be adjudicated in the housing part will harm tenants who have been illegally evicted, as their cases will likely take longer to be heard in the housing part.
0:25:11
It would also negatively impact HPD's enforcement of housing standards by affecting the housing part's capacity to timely address HPD's enforcement litigation and tenants' cases seeking the correction of serious housing maintenance violations, conditions and claims of harassment.
0:25:29
Additionally, as the housing court would have to effectuate this change, there is a question about whether amending the HMC would be binding on the New York State Office of Court Administration.
0:25:39
The law department will be reviewing this issue.
