Requires landlords to notify tenants if common areas or amenities in their building will be out of service for more than seven consecutive days; provides for a $1,000 civil penalty for violation.
Summary
This bill would add a new section to the Real Property Law requiring landlords of multiple dwellings to give tenants written notice when a common area or amenity is out of service for more than seven consecutive days. Covered areas include, for example, elevators, laundry rooms, and building entrances. Once the outage passes the seven-day threshold, the landlord must provide weekly written updates until the issue is resolved.
The required notice must be posted in a conspicuous place in the building and also delivered through at least one additional channel, such as email, a building management portal, or text alert. Each update must explain why the area or amenity is unavailable, the status of repairs or other cause, the estimated timeline for restoration, and contact information for the landlord or agent. The bill would take effect 60 days after becoming law.
Impact
The bill would create a new tenant-notice obligation under New York real property law and apply it to landlords of multiple dwellings when shared building services or amenities are unavailable for an extended period. It would also authorize enforcement by the relevant municipal housing agency and establish a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per week of non-compliance, increasing the regulatory consequences for landlords who fail to keep tenants informed about prolonged outages.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes, the measure appears to be framed as a tenant-protection and transparency bill with an administrative compliance focus. The stated purpose suggests a generally pro-tenant policy approach, emphasizing communication and accountability rather than substantive repair mandates. No formal vote history or transcript evidence is available here to indicate broader support or opposition.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the enforcement mechanism and penalty structure: landlords may view the weekly notice requirement and $1,000-per-week civil penalty as burdensome, especially for repairs that are delayed by factors outside their immediate control. Tenants and housing advocates would likely support the bill’s transparency requirements, while property owners and managers may raise concerns about compliance costs, notice logistics, and whether the seven-day trigger is too short for certain building systems or repair timelines. No specific stakeholder objections are recorded in the provided materials.