State legislators agree on bill to protect tenants across state

State legislators have agreed on a new bill to protect tenants across the state, days before state rent control laws were set to expire.

News 12 Staff

Jun 12, 2019, 9:12 PM

Updated 1,771 days ago

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State legislators have agreed on a new bill to protect tenants across the state, days before state rent control laws were set to expire.
The state Senate and Assembly announced Tuesday that the new legislation will extend current laws that expire June 15. The provisions protect tenants from being harassed out of their homes with huge rent hikes and unfair evictions, closing preferential rent loopholes and ending vacancy bonuses.
The new Democratic majority in the state Senate helped to push the bill forward. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said in a joint statement, "For too long, power has been tilted in favor of landlords and these measures finally restore equity."
Some landlords are not happy with the decision. The Real Estate Board of New York, which represents the interests of property owners, said in a statement, "The legislation put forward last night will be a disaster for the city's future. The city's housing crisis will get worse, with higher vacancy rates, less affordable housing and little relief for those New Yorkers who need the most help paying the rent."
The state Senate and Assembly are expected to vote on the bill by the end of this week. It will then go to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign.


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