Bills affecting Renter in New York (2026 session)

Prohibits the use of a facial recognition system by a landlord on any residential premises.

Reduces the period of notice required to be given when a written demand for rent is served on a tenant after the tenant has defaulted in the payment of rent and the period of notice to be given serving a warrant issued pursuant to a final judgment of eviction from fourteen days to seven days.

Enacts the "New York city small business rent stabilization act" instituting a commercial rent control system in the city of New York; creates the commercial rent guidelines board.

Requires landlords to return the full security deposit and any accrued interest to which the tenant is entitled less any amount retained by the landlord within 21 days of the end of the lease.

Establishes the "tenant opportunity to purchase act"; prevents the displacement of lower-income tenants in New York and preserves affordable housing by providing an opportunity for tenants to own or remain renters in the properties in which they reside.

Prohibits the adjustment of maximum allowable rent where any modification, increase or improvement is made to accommodate the needs of a disabled tenant; defines disabled tenant.

Limits security deposits to one month's rent; requires landlords to return the full security deposit and any accrued interest to which the tenant is entitled less any amount retained by the landlord within 21 days of the end of the lease.

Establishes the "tenant opportunity to purchase act"; prevents the displacement of middle and lower-income tenants in New York and preserves affordable housing by providing an opportunity for tenants to own or remain renters in the properties in which they reside.

Requires a landlord to return to a tenant the full security deposit within thirty days of the surrender of the premises by such tenant unless the landlord provides such tenant with a written statement listing the reasons for the retention of any portion of the deposit; sets forth particular situations for which the landlord may retain such security deposit; renders the landlord liable for treble damages for any violation.

Prohibits landlords from restricting the installation of appliances or fixtures by tenants; provides that the landlord is not compelled to change utilities for such installation; prohibits surcharge where tenant pays utilities directly to provider; requires a tenant restore appliances or fixtures to the condition they were prior to being installed or allowing such appliances or fixtures remain in the rental unit at no cost to the landlord; defines "appliances or fixtures".

Prohibits the imposition of any surcharge for the installation or use of a tenant-installed appliance where the tenant pays for electric utility service, under rent control, and rent stabilization laws.

Prohibits landlords, lessors, sub-lessors and grantors from demanding brokers' fees from a tenant.

Provides that the term "landlord" when used in the real property law, shall not include or apply to any corporation, entity or organization, hereinafter known as a "cooperative entity" that is or is operating for the purpose of providing housing and/or residences for its shareholders by leasing or subleasing to such shareholders, under proprietary leases or occupancy agreements or subleases of such leases or occupancy agreements of apartments or residences in the buildings or premises owned by such cooperative entities; makes related provisions for the term "tenant".

Includes filing certain building permit applications containing false statements regarding tenant occupancy in the offense of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree.

Provides that all residential leases shall contain a detailed description of tenant's statutory rights including among others, warranty of habitability, willful violation of lease, right to participate in tenants' associations, no eviction for good faith complaint, utility payment offset and sublet rights; grants tenant the right to install extra locks; sets out landlord obligations with respect to heating and oil delivery.

Provides that when a housing accommodation has been vacated after continuous tenancy or occupancy of ten years or more prior to vacancy, and the owner can demonstrate restoration of the unit, the new legal regulated rent shall be the rent agreed to by the owner and first tenant after such restoration and reserved in a lease or other rental agreement; makes related provisions.

Relates to grounds where no landlord-tenant relationship exists.

Relates to the right of tenant association to have the first option to purchase a housing unit.

Provides that any tenant who is evicted or otherwise removed from a dwelling unit as a result of a vacate order issued by any governmental agency or department due to fire shall be entitled to a suitable accommodation; defines suitable accommodation; makes related provisions.

Provides that the existence of an infestation of pests in a premises occupied for dwelling purposes is a breach of the warranty of habitability, and requires a landlord to keep premises occupied for dwelling purposes free from an infestation of pests, prevent the reasonably foreseeable occurrence of such a condition and expeditiously remediate such condition and any underlying defect.