City To Get Tough On Negligent Landlords
While we’re not so sure about its constitutionality, a new bill to be proposed by the Bloomberg administration would give the city more power to take proactive measures to fix up derelict buildings whose landlords who fail conform to certain safety standards. Under the plan, HPD could go into a building with a minimum of…
While we’re not so sure about its constitutionality, a new bill to be proposed by the Bloomberg administration would give the city more power to take proactive measures to fix up derelict buildings whose landlords who fail conform to certain safety standards. Under the plan, HPD could go into a building with a minimum of 27 uncorrected code violations and redo everything from roofs to entire electrical systems and then stick the negligent landlords with the bill; if the owner didn’t pay up, the city would put a lien on the building. The goal is to restore the ailing portion of the housing stock at a time when demand for housing in the city has never been stronger; the goal is 200 buildings a year for five years. Sounds like a good move to us, though if they really wanted to fix the problem they’d get rid of all rent controls.
City to Seek Broader Power Over Buildings [NY Times]
Photo by humain
Re: rent control and stabilization, I had posed this specific question on another thread which no one answered. I’d like to pose it again, for those who believe rent control laws artificially inflate market rate rents:
Over the past few years, the number of rent-regulated apartments has decreased– why then have market rents not adjusted downward to reflect this?
Also: Is is possible to draw conclusions for NYC rents based upon rent deregulation in Sweden and a town in California? To whit: does the fact that Manhattan is an island, which limits the number of residential units that can ever be built here (supply and demand) have any bearing on market rents? And, as one of the richest cities in the world, with hedge fund managers and investment bankers [the new middle class as compared to HF managers…] making 7, 8, or even 9 figures per year (I would wager that salaries here far surpass that town in California or Sweden), aren’t rents going up because that’s what the market will bear?
For the record, I’m neither for nor against rent regulation, but I am interested in hearing others’ points of view– backed up by facts– on both sides. Also, could we stop the ad hominem attacks (11.18 am, et al)? It just weakens your position.
The Problem with this plan is that the City repairs won’t nessecarily be the best quality work. AND the City will certainly be charging the home owner top $$$ for possibly shoddy work.
I’ve seen it plenty of times. The City Charging at least $2.50 for what could be done for $1.00
Additionally this plan will rot of patronage. Contractors with the most “juice” will be awarded sweeter jobs.
Also, I would bet that many contractors of color will be left out of the process, or won’t have as much access. So once again the hood will be carved up
and exploited by outsiders.
Eryximachus, I agree with you completely. I wish Brownstoner would give you a column on this website. Your comments are always extremely insightful.
Sylvia sounds like a typical rent regulated tenant who just wants to keep her low rent deal.
Come on, Sylvia, of course Eryximachus isn’t suggesting getting rid of ALL laws. Provide some proof please that rent control is a fair system? You can’t because it isn’t based on need, but on luck, and the city isn’t covering the costs of subsidization, private landlords are.
NYC rent regulation creates needless, costly bureaucracy, increases housing costs for everybody else, and makes it very difficult for landlords of rent regulated buildings to properly maintain their properties.
My favorite comment so far is by 10:45am. At least he’s honest about his situation. If I had a cheap rent regulated apartment I might hang onto it too, but I’d at least admit there was no reason I deserved it! I’d admit I won the lottery and was living off my landlord’s dime.
Hey Brownstoner, when’s the next Brownstoner bar crawl? I’d be happy to subsidize a round or two for rent regulated folks who believe they shouldn’t have to pay for their own beer!
The most intelligent and realistic comment on this thread is that this law will change nothing because it depends on city workers to enforce. If there is a more lazy, incompetent bunch of employees on earth, I’d be shocked. As always, the great fanfare will be followed by business as usual.
12:49, can we have a link?
this is from a study i found online about deregulation in California and Massachusetts:
“Some argue that rent control leads landlords to defer maintenance. Experience reveals that it doesn’t, because in order to receive a rent increase, local rent control laws require landlords to maintain their properties in accordance with health and safe code regulations. As a result, rent control actually encourages better maintenance. More of the tenants’ rent goes toward building maintenance in cities with rent control than in cities without it.”
Sell the building or abandon it.
If you abandon there are organizations that work to try to convert it into a co-op.
Sucks to lose your home but deal with it now while you have options and don’t ignore the reality of the situation you are in.
Landlords shouldn’t buy buildings they don’t have the means to maintain. When they let buildings go, they’re breaking the law and putting tenants in harm’s way. They’re criminals and should be treated as such. Landlords like 12:02’s friends parents have the same kind of responsibility that a driver has when they get behind the wheel of a car–they have to follow the rules of the road and not run people over.
Somehow I don’t believe your story of owning bldg 30 years, no mortgage and just breaking even. Either you are full of it or your friend is.
If owned free and clear – they could easily sell for mucho dinero.
If barely breaking even -why are they holding it?
As Judge Judy says, if doesn’t sound right….