City Council Takes Step Closer to Expanding Protections for Tenants
Committee Hearing Discusses Bills Addressing Illegal Evictions and Cooling in Summer
The City Council took one step closer to expanding protections for tenants against illegal evictions and mandating that all tenant-occupied buildings have access to cooling during the summer. In a committee hearing, council members heard testimony on a slate of bills addressing the issues.
Cooling Season Bill
Councilmember Lincoln Restler, who is the primary sponsor of the air conditioning bill, acknowledged that the bills were "bold" but maintained that they were necessary — especially because extreme temperatures are the "number one climate killer." "It’s not wildfire, or hurricanes, or tornadoes," he said. "It’s heat." Though currently city landlords are required to provide heat in residential buildings during "heat season" from October 1 to May 31, there is no similar legal requirement for cooling during warmer months. Restler’s bill would establish a "cooling season" from June 15 to September 15.
Concerns Raised
On Tuesday, the Council heard testimony from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), which is responsible for maintaining affordable housing, along with the NYPD, a number of nonprofits, tenant advocates, and a representative of the Independent Budget Office. Broadly, attendees supported the legislation, but raised concerns around implementation, fairness, and viability that they hoped the bills’ eventual language would address.
Cost of Cooling
A number of attendees had the same issue with the proposed cooling bill: while requiring building owners to install air conditioners would be a step towards ensuring the most vulnerable New Yorkers are kept cool in the summer, the cost of running them would still fall on tenants. "This premise of providing appliances is only as good as people using them, particularly at times of most need," said Sarah Parker, a senior researcher at the New York City Independent Budget Office.
Implementation Challenges
HPD, which enforces the city’s heating requirements, said the agency would have to significantly increase its staff in order to accommodate a similar timeline for inspections if new cooling requirements were to be put into law. "We want to have a real conversation about what those demands would be on HPD so that we can plan for it and fund it appropriately to make sure that enforcement is successful," said Deputy Commissioner Lucy Joffe.
Tenant Harassment Bill
Along with the air conditioning bill, attendees testified largely in support of legislation brought by Councilmember Sandy Nurse (D-Brooklyn) aimed at increasing protections for tenants: listing unlawful evictions under tenant harassment, increasing the rights of occupants who may not have a lease, changing lockout procedures, posting notices on rent-stabilized units, and increasing penalties on landlords for unlawful evictions. Though most supported the bills’ aims to curb illegal evictions, there were a few common critiques: testimony from legal advocates cautioned against denying subsidies to landlords who engage in unlawful evictions, since it could have negative consequences for tenants who rely on housing subsidies like CityFHEPS.
Conclusion
The City Council will adapt the bills’ language before ultimately bringing them to a vote. While there are concerns around implementation and cost, the bills aim to address critical issues of tenant protection and cooling in summer. As the Council continues to work on these bills, it is essential to prioritize the needs of vulnerable New Yorkers and ensure that any legislation passed is effective and fair.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the cooling season bill?
A: The cooling season bill aims to establish a legal requirement for landlords to provide cooling in residential buildings during warmer months.
Q: Who testified at the committee hearing?
A: The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the NYPD, a number of nonprofits, tenant advocates, and a representative of the Independent Budget Office testified at the hearing.
Q: What are the concerns around the cooling bill?
A: Attendees raised concerns around the cost of running air conditioners, implementation challenges, and the potential for inefficient cooling solutions.
Q: What is the purpose of the tenant harassment bill?
A: The tenant harassment bill aims to increase protections for tenants by listing unlawful evictions under tenant harassment, increasing the rights of occupants who may not have a lease, changing lockout procedures, posting notices on rent-stabilized units, and increasing penalties on landlords for unlawful evictions.
