Blog

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. January 15, 2020 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

The new bill is titled S1493 Sca (1R) and it was signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday, January 13, 2020.   Generally, the new legislation aims at landlords who require renters to agree to automatic monthly debit payments as a condition of entering a new lease or renewing a lease.  The new legislation prohibits landlords from requiring residential tenants to pay rent and other related charges through electronic funds transfer and it requires landlords to provide receipts for cash payments. 

By Stephanie Wiegand, Esq. January 13, 2020 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

New York City has established a city-funded right to counsel for low-income tenants facing eviction proceedings. The right to counsel law, Local Law 136 of 2017, amended the New York City Administrative Code § 26-1301 et seq.  The law now requires New York City to build up the capacity of the City’s nonprofit legal services organizations over five years so that by 2022, the nonprofit organizations will be able to provide attorney representation for every low-income household in New York City that is subject to eviction in Housing Court.

October 7, 2019 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Good-Guy Guarantees are a staple of business rental agreements in New York. 

The purpose of a Good-Guy Guarantee is twofold. It allows a tenant to maintain limited rent liability. Simultaneously, it provides tenants with an additional incentive to avoid defaulting on the lease. It is essential that the Good-Guy Guarantee is adapted appropriately.

October 2, 2019 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Prior to this recent amendment, Hoboken’s Rent Control Ordinance included a provision that allowed landlords with rental properties subject to rent control to pass on large tax surcharges to tenants based on property tax increases dating back to 1988, regardless of when the landlord acquired the property. 

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. September 5, 2019 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

A rise in the popularity of Airbnb and other short-term on-line marketing rental sites has allowed homeowners and renters to rent properties on a short-term basis and to reap significant financial rewards.  That financial reward has allowed cities who passed laws to accommodate short-term rentals to realize increased tax revenue.  While for most this has been a win-win situation, there has also been a downside to this growing trend.  The rise in short-term rentals has had both a negative and a positive impact, depending on which side of the issue you favor.  In general, the practice of short-term rental has increased the cost of rent and decreased the availability of residences to rent in urban cities on a long-term basis.  Those engaged in the short-term rental business have realized a revenue source that has proven very lucrative.  Landlords, on the other hand, have had to deal with the consequences of short-term rentals. 

July 24, 2019 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Navigating the subletting of rental apartments in New York can be a tricky business for Landlords and Tenants alike. This is especially true if the tenant is receiving subsidies or public housing assistance, and if the apartment is rent stabilized. Tenants and Landlords should be aware of the differences between subletting, assigning a lease, and having guests visit the apartment dwelling. This article is intended to provide some valuable information for Landlords and for Tenants who decide to sublease or to allow a sublease.

July 24, 2019 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Navigating the subletting of rental apartments in New York can be a tricky business for Landlords and Tenants alike. This is especially true if the tenant is receiving subsidies or public housing assistance, and if the apartment is rent stabilized. Tenants and Landlords should be aware of the differences between subletting, assigning a lease, and having guests visit the apartment dwelling. This article is intended to provide some valuable information for Landlords and for Tenants who decide to sublease or to allow a sublease.

By Stephanie Wiegand, Esq. May 30, 2019 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

When a tenant passes away, landlords often face questions of what to do with the apartment and how to respond to family members and next of kin during such an emotional time.  There is also the difficult situation of handling a tenant who has become ill, infirm, and/or needs to terminate his/her tenancy early to transfer permanently to a nursing or assisted living home.  Under the law, there are certain requirements that a tenant or next of kin must follow to provide for a smooth transition in such times

By Jennifer L. Alexander, Esq. May 2, 2019 Posted in Landlord/Tenant Law Share

Griffin Alexander, P.C. watches and anticipates recent trends, legislation and lawsuits governing community association and landlord/tenant law. One recent trend in community living is association concern conflicting fair housing laws.