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Assisting Landlords and Property Managers
New York City is a prime location for many property investors and maintaining rental units can be an exceptionally lucrative venture for building owners. In some instances, a property owner also serves as a landlord, while other arrangements involve the outsourcing of these responsibilities to a management company or third-party property supervisor.
In any event, proper compliance with state and federal laws concerning proper rental practices, policies and procedures is important in ensuring long-term appreciation of the property as well as protecting the value of the property from any liability, judgments or liens due to lawsuits. . If you have any questions regarding the rules and regulations governing New York landlord/tenant law or need assistance with litigation, please contact Griffin Alexander, P.C. as soon as possible. We can help.
New York City Landlord & Tenant Regulations
As one of the largest cities in the world, New York City is the proud home of over 2.2 million rental units – the greatest number of which are located in the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. Accordingly, the City has implemented a number of regulations and regulatory measures as outlined in the New York State landlord/tenant statutes and applicable federal fair housing rules. It is imperative that a landlord is aware of these rules in order to avoid costly liability.
In the event of a conflict, New York City landlords may access the New York City Housing Court, which maintains a tribunal in all five boroughs and specializes exclusively in resolving landlord/tenant disputes.
Statutory Regulations
State laws governing the proper rules and procedure of the landlord/tenant relationship can be found in the New York Revised Statutes. For instance, a landlord may find rules within the Real Property Code, Multiple Residential Law, and the General Obligation Laws (Gen. Oblig. Laws). Moreover, landlords must be aware of the following areas applicable to the tenancy arrangement:
- Security deposits, including amounts, accounting & mandatory disclosures
- Rent control & stabilization
- Fair housing
- Subsidized housing (“Section 8”) regulations
- Termination & eviction
- Small claims court procedures
- Maintenance & habitability regulations
In addition to offering thorough counselling concerning the various local and state regulations impacting landlords, Griffin Alexander, P.C. can help landlords prevent costly litigation by preparing comprehensive policy guidelines, rental policies, lease agreements and other governing documents necessary to maintain legal stability and security.
Understanding the Federal Regulations
Federal laws also affect the landlord/tenant relationship, and can be seen most often in fair housing.. Violations of fair housing laws can be extremely costly and may even result in a landlord losing the right to rent the property or access subsidies. There are a number of ways in which a landlord may inadvertently engage in unlawful discrimination, particularly with regard to disabilities, marital status or any other protected class.
By working with our team of professionals, you can rest assured that your rental policies are compliant with all anti-discrimination laws and also enjoy peace of mind knowing that your background and credit check protocols are legally sound.
Call Griffin Alexander, P.C. Today
For assistance with New York City landlord/tenant issues, please do not hesitate to contact Griffin Alexander, P.C. right away. You can reach our New York City office at (212) 374-9790.