Mayor Michael Bloomberg has signed a law which he believes will help prevent landlords from delaying improvements to their properties in an effort to force tenants out of their apartments.

Bloomberg said that landlords have been known to delay repairs and improvements for tenants paying lower rents in the hopes that those tenants will leave. These landlords then do repairs and rent the same properties at a much higher price, he said.

Bloomberg called these “unacceptable and improper actions by landlords.”

With the law, any tenant harassment is now a Class C violation of the housing code, with a penalty of between $1,000 and $5,000 for violators.

“This bill also empowers tenants so that they may be able to bring a claim of harassment in housing court and enables the court to issue restraining orders against owners if violations have been found,” Bloomberg said, before signing the bill. “This bill takes into account owners’ rights as well, enabling them to prove that acts were not intended to cause an occupant to vacate and that the owner has acted in good faith.”

The lead sponsors on the bill in the Council were Council Member Melissa Mark Viverito (D-Manhattan/Bronx) and Council Member Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan). Both called the bill an essential protection.

“Local Law Number 7 will serve as a life jacket for the most vulnerable New York City tenants,” Viverito said.

Garodnick agreed, while also linking the law to the constant battle to preserve affordable housing.

“We are finally giving tenants the tools they need to fight back,” Garodnick said.
“With the signing of Local Law 7, we are also protecting our stock of affordable housing from those landlords who will stop at nothing to drive tenants out and deregulate their apartments.”
Speaking immediately before the bill was signed, Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) looked to allay fears that the measure flood the courts with lawsuits. Not only does the law give judges discretion to award attorney fees to landlords if the claims against them are frivolous, but Quinn said that the law would serve as a preventative measure, chastening landlords into better behavior.

“This is going to send a message to landlords,” she said. “The jig is up.”

Photo by William Altariste.