C
ity Council members are pushing forward with eight measures aimed at strengthening tenant protections, which would be funded by landlords. At a recent hearing, proposals targeting illegal evictions, rent-stabilized disclosures, and air-conditioning were discussed. Many of the proposals were reintroduced, but the meeting coincided with a pivotal moment: tomorrow's expected passage of a broker's fee ban.

    Council members are committed to tenant rights, particularly in light of Donald Trump's presidential win. Chair Pierina Ana Sanchez emphasized that more needs to be done to protect tenants. A bill requiring landlords to provide air-conditioning was introduced this summer, responding to the growing issue of heat-related deaths due to climate change. Another measure would require owners of rent-stabilized buildings to post public notices about regulated units.

    These measures would impose a tax on landlords and potentially expose them to more litigation. The cooling legislation conflicts with Local Law 97's carbon emissions requirements, as air conditioning is an energy-intensive expense that many rent-stabilized landlords cannot afford. Notices could lead to increased liability under state law for knowingly deregulating apartments illegally.

    The remaining measures focus on illegal lock-outs. One proposal would require landlords who illegally evicted a tenant to apply for a certificate of no harassment before changing the building's occupancy, while another would increase penalties for unlawful eviction to $20,000 from $10,000. Council members aim to make it costly for landlords to break the law and illegally lock out tenants.