AGENCY TESTIMONY
Impact of Intro 994 on renters and property owners
1:46:50
·
95 sec
Sarah Parker discusses the potential effects of Intro 994 on renters and property owners in New York City, highlighting the current state of air conditioning in rental units and potential cost implications.
- About 11% (257,000) of occupied rental households in NYC report not having air conditioning
- There is variation in air conditioning availability across community districts
- While property owners would initially pay for installation, costs may be passed on to tenants through rent increases
- Approximately 21% (493,000) of rental units with air conditioning report not using it due to cost concerns
Sarah Parker
1:46:50
I will now turn to discuss the costs associated with air conditioning and the home energy assistance program.
1:46:57
A major consideration related to this bill is how it will affect renters in New York city.
1:47:02
Intro 994 calls for property owner to install a window air conditioner in residential rental units without central air or an existing window unit.
1:47:12
Per the 2023 housing vacancy survey, as we just discussed, around 11% or 257,000 occupied rental households reported that they did not have air conditioning.
1:47:26
These units would be most immediately impacted by this bill.
1:47:30
Citywide, there is variation by community district with some neighborhoods having notably lower shares of households with air conditioners than others.
1:47:41
While under this bill, the owner pays for the clients directly, economic theory suggests that some or all of the cost to purchase and install the air conditioner would be passed on to tenants in the form of rent increases.
1:47:56
Apart from the cost of purchasing the appliance, there's also the cost to run the air conditioner.
1:48:01
In most cases in New York City, tenants pay for their electricity.
1:48:06
Cost is a major barrier for households using air conditioning.
1:48:10
Again, looking to the 2023 housing vacancy survey, approximately 21% or 493,000 rental units have air conditioning but reported they did not use it due to cost.
