Bill > A02422

This bill modifies existing New York City housing law regarding landlords' ability to recover possession of a dwelling unit for personal use. The key changes include extending the period a tenant must have lived in a building from fifteen to twenty years before being protected from eviction, and replacing gendered language like "he or she" with more neutral terms like "such owner". The bill allows a landlord to recover one dwelling unit for their own personal use or for a member of their immediate family's primary residence, with important restrictions: the unit cannot be rented to anyone else for three years after recovery, and the landlord is prohibited from using this provision if the tenant is 62 years old or older, has lived in the building for 20+ years, or has a permanent medical impairment preventing substantial employment. If a landlord makes a fraudulent statement about the intended use of the housing accommodation, the tenant can pursue legal action for damages and attorneys' fees. The bill takes effect immediately and applies to current tenants, with the amendments set to expire on the same date as the existing law.