Disputes between landlords and tenants are unavoidable in New York. Given the large number of people who live in apartments or who are renting from another person in a private house, such issues as lease disputes, holdover actions, non-payment rent proceedings and nuisance and lease violations can crop up and lead to complicated disagreements from the perspective of both the tenant and the landlord. Having a grasp on how city laws can help to avoid these issues or protect those who believe the laws have been violated. Of course, if there is a problem or a legal violation, litigation is always an option.
Tenants who are concerned about their rights can take heart in two new bills that were introduced to start the New Year. These bills are meant to help tenants and ensure that landlords who commit violations are held responsible. The New York City Public Advocate described the new legislation proposals. One is to protect tenants from eviction due to construction. The other is the nuisance abatement.
The Nuisance Abatement bill will allow the city to move forward with legal action if there are such issues as unsanitary conditions, ventilation problems and overcrowding. If the problem is detrimental to health and dangerous to human life, these will be considered nuisances. The bill to protect tenants from eviction due to construction — known as “No Eviction by Construction” — will ask the Department of Buildings to issue a denial to building owners who have hazards violations.
With legal disputes between tenants and landlords, it is important that New York residents understand their legal rights and options. There are laws in place to help tenants protect themselves should an issue arise. Quick action may be necessary to take advantage of these protections.
Source: metro.us, “New housing bills hope to protect tenants, crack down on bad landlords,” Jan. 5, 2016