Res 0340-2018

By Council Members Rivera, Cornegy, Chin, Rosenthal, Torres, Williams, Perkins and Kallos Whereas, New York City continues to face a housing crisis, with the latest Housing Vacancy Survey (HVS) conducted by the United States Census Bureau revealing a vacancy rate of only 3.65 percent; and Whereas, The HVS identified 936,850 unregulated units in New York City; and Whereas, The lease terms and rental rates for unregulated units are negotiated between the owner and tenant; and Whereas, Tenants in unregulated units have little, if any, protection from excessive rent increases or burdensome changes in lease provisions and have no right to lease renewals, which allows landlords to continuously seek out new tenants capable of paying ever higher rents; and Whereas, Rent stabilization gives tenants critical protections and rights by setting standards for rent increases and evictions and by providing renewal rights; Whereas, All tenants should be afforded the kinds of protections provided under rent stabilization; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation that would extend rent stabilization to unregulated apartments. JLC LS 5596 4/26/18 9:46 am