Bill > A01642

This bill amends the Emergency Tenant Protection Act to modify how legal regulated base date rent is determined in cases of rent overcharge complaints. Specifically, the bill introduces a new provision that allows for determining the base date rent at the four-year lookback period using either the survey sampling method or the default method if fraud is detected. In the context of rent-stabilized housing, this means that when a tenant files a complaint about being charged excessive rent, the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal will have additional flexibility in calculating the correct historical rent. The bill applies to housing accommodations in cities with less than one million residents, towns, and villages under emergency housing declarations. The change aims to provide more precise methods for establishing the correct historical rent and addressing potential fraudulent rental practices, which can help protect tenants from improper rent overcharges. The amendment provides an additional tool for housing authorities to investigate and remedy potential rent overcharges by allowing alternative calculation methods when standard approaches may not fully capture the rental history.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1642