Int 0048-2014

Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Title 26 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new chapter 11 to read as follows: CHAPTER 11 HOUSING INFORMATION GUIDE FOR TENANTS AND OWNERS �26-1101 Definitions. �26-1102 Housing information guide for tenants and owners. �26-1103 Notice required. �26-1104 Violations and penalties. �26-1101 Definitions. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms are defined as follows: "Department" means the department of housing preservation and development. "Dwelling unit" means a dwelling unit as defined in paragraph thirteen of subdivision a of section 27-2004 of the code. "Multiple dwelling" means a dwelling as defined in paragraph seven of subdivision a of section 27-2004 of the code. "Owner" means an owner as defined in paragraph forty-five of subdivision a of section 27-2004 of the code. "Tenant" means any lawful occupant of a dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling. �26-1102 Housing information guide for tenants and owners. a. The department shall maintain a housing information guide for tenants and owners in English, Spanish and, in the discretion of the department, other languages. Such guide shall be available on the department's website and shall be available in printed form upon request. b. The guide maintained pursuant to this section shall include, but not be limited to, information about: (1) owners' responsibilities with respect to eviction, heat and hot water, pest management, repairs and maintenance, tenant organizations, rent-regulated leases, rental assistance for elderly or disabled tenants, and housing discrimination; (2) tenants' responsibilities with respect to responding to required notices, allowing access for inspections and repairs, and not causing violations; (3) the availability of free and low-cost legal services; and (4) other topics deemed relevant by the department. �26-1103 Notice of housing information guide for tenants and owners. a. Posting required. Every owner of a multiple dwelling shall post a notice in English and Spanish regarding the availability of the housing information guide for tenants and owners maintained pursuant to section 26-1102 of this chapter. Such notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place within view of the area in the multiple dwelling to which mail is delivered. b. Upon request by a tenant occupying a dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling, the owner of such multiple dwelling shall make best efforts to provide the notice required by subdivision a in a language other than English or Spanish. c. The notice required by subdivision a of this section shall, at a minimum, indicate that the guide maintained pursuant to section 26-1102 of this chapter includes information about: (1) owners' responsibilities with respect to eviction, heat and hot water, pest management, repairs and maintenance, tenant organizations, rent-regulated leases, rental assistance for elderly or disabled tenants, and housing discrimination; (2) topics related to tenants' responsibilities; and (3) the availability of free and low-cost legal services. d. Contents of posted notice. The department shall determine the form of the notice required pursuant to subdivision a of this section. �26-1104 Violations and penalties. Any owner who violates the provisions of subdivision a of section 26-1103 of this chapter shall be liable for a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars. For purposes of this section, each multiple dwelling in which an owner fails to post the notice required pursuant to subdivision a of section 26-1103 of this chapter shall be deemed a separate violation. �2. This local law shall take effect 150 days after its enactment, except that the commissioner of housing preservation and development may take such actions as are necessary for its implementation, including the promulgation of rules, prior to such effective date. JW LS 375/2014 8/11/14 1