Signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits the harassment of rent regulated tenants.

Highlights:

• Defines “harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree” as actions intended to induce a tenant to vacate a housing accommodation by (Sec. 1):

• Impairing the habitability of a housing accommodation; 

• Creating or maintaining unsafe conditions within the housing accommodation; or

• Interfering with the comfort of a rent regulated tenant, through means such as the discontinuance of essential services (Sec. 1).

• Classifies the harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree as a class A misdemeanor (Sec. 1). 

• Defines “harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the first degree” as actions intended to induce a tenant or tenants to vacate a housing accommodation by (Sec. 1):

• Causing injury to a tenant or a third person either intentionally or recklessly;

• Impairing the habitability of multiple housing accommodations;

• Creating or maintaining unsafe conditions within multiple housing accommodations; or

• Interfering with the comfort of one or more rent regulated tenants, through means such as the discontinuance of essential services (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that an owner who commits harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree within 5 years of a previous conviction, is guilty of the crime in the first degree (Sec. 1). 

• Classifies the harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the first degree as a class E felony (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits the harassment of rent regulated tenants.

Highlights:

• Defines “harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree” as actions intended to induce a tenant to vacate a housing accommodation by (Sec. 1):

• Impairing the habitability of a housing accommodation; 

• Creating or maintaining unsafe conditions within the housing accommodation; or

• Interfering with the comfort of a rent regulated tenant, through means such as the discontinuance of essential services (Sec. 1).

• Classifies the harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree as a class A misdemeanor (Sec. 1). 

• Defines “harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the first degree” as actions intended to induce a tenant or tenants to vacate a housing accommodation by (Sec. 1):

• Causing injury to a tenant or a third person either intentionally or recklessly;

• Impairing the habitability of multiple housing accommodations;

• Creating or maintaining unsafe conditions within multiple housing accommodations; or

• Interfering with the comfort of one or more rent regulated tenants, through means such as the discontinuance of essential services (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that an owner who commits harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the second degree within 5 years of a previous conviction, is guilty of the crime in the first degree (Sec. 1). 

• Classifies the harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the first degree as a class E felony (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text