The New York State Office of Court Administration [OCA] sells the names of every tenant sued in housing court for eviction, handing over the names to private companies that create lists of potentially bad tenants. Landlords then buy the lists to screen out applicants, many of whom wind up on this list even if they win their housing court lawsuits. Or even if an error resulted in them getting sued by mistake. But now a legal team is going to court to fight the blacklisting. more ›

A Murray Hill resident facing eviction is threatening to file a class-action lawsuit against his landlord, who continues to complain about the "odor of marijuana" emanating from his apartment. Sebastian Rosario claims that he'll sue the owner of 340 E. 34th Street for harassment and threatening to kick him out. In court papers obtained by the Post, the landlord alleges that neighbors complain of "strong smoke odors, including the odor of marijuana" around Rosario's aparment. Wait, people smoke marijuana INSIDE their apartments? more ›

The rent remains too damn high for tenants of rent-regulated apartments—while the rent is too damn low for landlords and building owners—after last night's final vote to approve rent hikes of 3.75% for one-year leases and 7.25% for two-year leases, which is the biggest hike in three years. more ›

A new feature in Craigslist lets apartment hunters steer clear of bad landlords. The new link, found at the top of the apartment listings, leads to a website created by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio's office. It currently lists more than 320 landlords and more than 400 buildings that have been cited for housing code violations. Currently number one on the list: one Lisa Dreshaj, who has racked up 2,047 infractions with her four buildings, including 656 class C violations, which are considered "immediately hazardous." You can also vote on ways to hold landlords more accountable on the site. Public dunking booths, anyone? more ›

After emerging from a closed door meeting with Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos sounded optimistic that a budget agreement could be announced tomorrow. But New Yorkers demanding changes to the rent regulation rules are bound to be disappointed, as are those who think the state's budget crisis should be solved, in part, by an income tax surcharge on New Yorkers making more than $200,000. "It’s off the table, it’s gone, it’s done, it’s dead," Skelos told reporters, referring to the so-called "millionaire's tax." more ›

Now that landlords are required to reveal their buildings's bedbug history to tenants, they're planning to turn the tables and ask prospective tenants whether or not they've had bedbugs before. If they have, the landlord could legally reject the tenant. "It evens the playing field by making sure the landlord isn't conversely bringing bedbugs into the building" landlord attorney Jeff Turkel told the Post. Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal said the move could be "discriminatory," but c'mon, it's not like anyone is going to reveal that if they know they could get turned down. more ›

There ought to be a law requiring landlords to inform prospective tenants that they may be moving into an apartment invested with blood sucking parasites—and Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal agrees. She's pushing legislation that would "grant prospective tenants and homeowners the right to a record of any bedbug infestation history within the property in question." Which would be appreciated, because bedbugs are appallingly resilient. Some species can live up to a year between feedings if necessary, and just when you think you've gotten rid of them, they paratroop down onto your bed from the ceiling for a refill. more ›

New legislation introduced today by the City Council may help those who suffer from asthma by requiring landlords to make buildings more lung-friendly. The council would require owners of 175 buildings to attempt to reduce asthma factors like mold and garbage pileup, or risk liens from the city. Council Speaker Christine Quinn told the Times, "Not every landlord is a good landlord in the city of New York. We need to have stricter laws to deal with those bad apples." more ›

Think your landlord blocking out the windows makes him a slumlord extraordinaire? You might have to re-evaluate: the Voice has recreated their compendium of the sleaziest, most exploitative landlords in the city. It's a long piece (part 1 of 2), but filled with balanced reportage and some priceless personal anecdotes (on the record, to boot!), and well worth a look through. more ›

In a move that may or may not distract voters from his role in the Senate coup and the ongoing investigation into his shady non-profit groups, State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada will introduce a bill today that would freeze the rent for nearly 300,000 low- and moderate-income households in rent-subsidized apartments in all five boroughs. The program, if approved by the full Legislature, would be funded through landlords, not city or state funds, the AP reports. But the devil is in the details, and the bill is just as sweet, if not sweeter, for the property owners Espada has consistently gone to bat for. more ›

Painfully aware that they no longer have the upper hand in the bargaining process with renters, more and more landlords are taking the inevitable step to keep the tenants they have from looking for unbelievable Craigslist deals and simply cutting their rent—sometimes voluntarily. The Times talks to landlords who admit that they've been sending out new leases at renewal time with unexpected discounts since they've seen so many tenants eager to jump ship to test a buyer's market. After a big spike in new rentals this spring after a tremendously slow first quarter of the year, one president of an appraisal firm tells the Times, “There’s a confusion between more activity and rents rising. I think the spring saw more activity.” Making things worse is the fact that 14,000 new units are expected to come online in 2010 alone. While some renters are getting unsolicited price cuts, one Williamsburg resident had to make an offer he had his doubts about. Not only was it accepted, he didn't even have to renew his lease. He tells the paper, “After I got my rent lowered here, I started negotiating with everyone. I got my cable bill lowered!” more ›

That new law enabling tenants to sue their landlords for harassment could be overturned. A lawsuit filed in state Supreme Court by the misleadingly-named Rent Stabilization Association and the poetically-named Prometheus Realty Corp. (because the corporation is chained to the rock of onerous regulation while tenants peck at their livers) argues that while the NYPD is free to intervene in cases of tenant harassment, it is not within the city’s power to regulate housing issues, Gotham Gazette reports. According to the Sun, the suit also maintains that it’s simply impossible for a city inspector to objectively evaluate whether "harassment" has taken place. City Council speaker Christine Quinn (pictured), a champion of the Tenant Protection Act, says that “instead of forcing us to waste taxpayer money in court, landlords should use their resources to ensure full compliance with the law.” more ›

Property owners are not holding their breath for a citywide ban on domestic smoking, like the ones barring lighting up in bars or restaurants, but non-smoking is increasingly becoming a requirement for renters in New York City. more ›

Pet-owning tenants of eight buildings in the Bronx are distressed over letters recently sent out by the South Bronx Management Company, who took over the buildings that were once owned by the city. The letters point out that leases prevent the keeping of pets in the building and threaten that if tenants don't get rid of their animals, they will be evicted. This sounds like a case for the pet lawyers! more ›

Yesterday Mayor Bloomberg signed off on the city’s first law enabling tenants to sue landlords in Housing Court for systemic harassment. Previously, tenants had to take landlords to court for each and every violation, such as failure to provide hot water or letting so much water leak that floors collapse. The so-called Tenant Protection Act is primarily aimed at landlords who are trying to force tenants out of rent-regulated apartments in order to bump the rent up to obscene market rates. more ›