Bill > S01058

This bill requires landlords in multiple dwelling buildings that use submetering (a system where tenants are individually charged for utility usage) to reduce tenants' rent by the exact amount of utility costs that were previously included in their rent. The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) is mandated to review and establish a standard for these rent reductions within 90 days of the bill's effective date, and to create an appeals process for tenants who believe their rent reduction does not accurately reflect their actual utility costs. Submetering allows property owners to bill tenants directly for their individual utility consumption, and this bill aims to ensure that when a building transitions to this system, tenants do not pay twice for their utilities - once through their base rent and again through direct utility charges. The bill provides tenant protections by requiring a dollar-for-dollar reduction in rent and establishing a mechanism for tenants to challenge potential discrepancies in their utility cost calculations.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1058