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Council Member Sandy Nurse introduces the Rent Transparency Act
0:39:24
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98 sec
Council Member Sandy Nurse presents her bill, Intro 1037-A, known as the Rent Transparency Act. The bill aims to increase transparency in rent-stabilized buildings by requiring signage that informs tenants about rent-stabilized units and how to access their rental history. Nurse emphasizes the importance of this bill in addressing illegal rent overcharges and deregulation.
- The bill requires signage in common areas of rent-stabilized buildings directing tenants to the NY State Department of Homes and Community Renewal website for rental history requests.
- It alerts tenants that landlords may face fines for not registering units with DHCR.
- Rent overcharge complaints have increased from 500 to over 900 annually in recent years.
Sandy Nurse
0:39:24
Thank you, majority leader.
0:39:26
I too have had a Chiyose video debut.
0:39:32
Today, we are voting on my bill intro ten thirty seven, the Rent Transparency Act.
0:39:37
The bill will require signage in the common areas of all buildings subject to the rent stabilization law that notifies tenants that one or more units in the building are rent stabilized.
0:39:48
The sign will direct them to the New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal website where they can request their rental history.
0:39:55
The bill also alerts tenants that their landlords may be subject to fines if they do not register their units with DHCR.
0:40:02
Many tenants living in rent stabilized units don't know how to determine their legal rent, and in turn, bad landlords have gotten away with illegal rent overcharges and have illegally deregulated units and whole buildings.
0:40:15
The Rent Transparency Act acts as a counter to this information gap and makes it clear that landlords with apartment units that are out of compliance can face fines.
0:40:24
Rent overcharge complaints have increased from 500 annually just a few years ago to over 900 last year, and this is just from tenants who took action.
0:40:34
There are probably thousands who didn't.
0:40:37
And as we continue to lose New Yorkers to the astounding cost of living, rising rents remain a top concern for millions of New Yorkers.
0:40:44
Let's help relieve just some of the burden on tenants by giving them some clarity and passing the Rent Transparency Act.
0:40:50
Thank you to Ryan Hickey, Patricio Santana, Elliot Heisler, Austin Malone, and the housing legal services providers.
0:40:58
Colleagues, I ask you for your vote in favor of this bill.
0:41:01
Thank you, majority leader.