The Rent Stabilization Association- RSA

09/19/2022

Three years later, property owners are still in limbo feeling the prolonged effects of a half thought out Emergency Rental Assistance Program. NYS needs to seriously reassess solutions to help all of its people- tenants & owners.

They’re nowhere at pre-pandemic levels, but a small but steady rise since January may portend a new crisis.

09/07/2022

The City Council has its priorities all mixed up when it comes to the City’s property owners & tenants. Resuscitating this dangerous proposal to end criminal background checks is just another example of that

Lawmakers didn’t get the message last year when tenants and building owners rejected the New York City Council’s proposed bill that would have prevented

07/19/2022

Fixing the system will require a collaborative effort by lawmakers, the Office of Court Administration, property owners, renters and landlord-tenant attorneys if Albany truly wants to keep tenants in their homes

When Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill expanding the judges in certain judicial districts and Family Court, one branch of the judiciary wasn’t included.

07/11/2022

RSA is proud to have backed TENNY since day one. The property tax system in New York City has been broken for decades. We look forward to oral arguments at the Court of Appeals

Five years ago, Tax Equity Now New York (TENNY), a coalition of homeowners, renters, rental property owners and civil rights and social justice organizations, filed a lawsuit challenging New York City’s property tax system because it unfairly burdens low-income and minority neighborhoods.

06/29/2022

As Howard Husock states, "this isn't a housing market - it's a game of apartment musical chairs." NYC certainly needs to build more affordable housing, but there are commonsense solutions that can be done in the meantime alleviate the current, crazy housing market

It’s easy to conclude from the craziness of New York City’s rental market — including that long line for a tiny, rent-regulated East Village apartment — that what the city needs is more “affordable…

06/26/2022

“After all, how are landlords supposed to make ends meet when their costs are rising faster than rent revenue.. And this comes after the de Blasio years when rents were actually frozen or limited by minimal rent hikes…”

The caps — which apply to NYC’s 1M rent-stabilized apartments — are so out of line with real-world market conditions that they’re liable to do significant harm to tenants and landlords.

06/25/2022

RSA gets it. The RGB gets it. Why don’t lawmakers get it? Because it’s common sense. It’s actually good policy that will solve problems. We just haven’t seen it because it won’t help with their political rhetoric

The devastating housing laws passed in 2019 created a system in which rent-stabilized property owners rely more heavily on the RGB’s rent adjustments to offset increases.

06/22/2022

With a 3.25% increase for one year leases and 5% for two year leases, the RGB has acknowledged the alarming trends occurring in the aging housing stock. This is a step in the right direction, but as many RGB members stated this evening, it’s due time for lawmakers to do more for owners & tenants and fix the broken rent regulation system

06/13/2022

For the first time since 2019, RSA members get an opportunity to testify in-person before the Rent Guidelines Board in Queens tonight. Lawmakers have done nothing to address rising operating expenses, these rent adjustments are critical for the health of aging housing!

06/12/2022

Letting J-51 expire with no urgency to renew or replace it is a classic example of lawmakers prioritizing the wrong housing policy

The politicians who claim they are fighting for tenants’ rights and the protection of affordable housing are the same ones who are failing renters most in need when it comes to actual legislative action. Case in point: the impending expiration of the J-51 program, bringing an end to one of the few...

05/13/2022

Water rates expected to go up 5%. Tax assessments will go through the roof. NYC inflation up 6.3% in April. Con Edison now announces that electric bills will increase at least 11% this summer. Tell us again how the RGB preliminary ranges of 2-4% and 4-6% are adequate.

A Con Edison representative said the increase for its customers in New York City and Westchester could be “in the range” of 11 to 12 percent.

05/11/2022

“If tenants want someone to blame for a too-sharp increase, they should look to Mayor de Blasio, who — demanding no increase whatsoever for three years total… took the credit card approach for political expediency. Now the bill has come due.”

The ranges and final guidelines should actually be much higher, but at least the NYDN understands why we are in this position this year.

The conversation around New York’s rent stabilization is very emotional. After all, we’re talking about people’s homes and their ability to stay in them, a prerequisite for all other stability and prosperity in a city with a notoriously limited housing stock.