Rent-Control Changes Come Under Fire

Rent Control changes may be on the horizon, but will the changes be good for the renter?

By: Melanie Wilson

There are big changes on the horizon, according to consumer advocacy groups, who have been openly critical about the proposed changes to the rent control statutes. The new laws would allow landlords to evict tenants that live in rent-stabilized units, by citing “demolition” as the reason for the eviction.

The advocacy groups which are “watch-dogging” the efforts by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal, want a more strict definition of the word “demolition”. The DHCR is considering the provision within the Rent Stabilization Law, which would make it easier to evict rent-controlled tenants. Gale Brewer, Council Member, has found that landlords often attempt to come up with new ways to evict tenants in the city's 1 million rent-controlled units.

Ms. Brewer has said that the proposal could give landlords the ability to evict tenants and then not carry-through with the demolition. Ms. Brewer, along with other advocates, want the term “demolition” to be interpreted as the complete destruction of the building in question. These measures come hot on the heels of news reports of high officials, including Governor Paterson, Charlie Rangel, and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, that have rent-stabilized units within the city. "There does need to be more oversight of the Rent Guidelines Board by the council. I do think that to have the résumés of the board members discussed publicly is a good thing," Ms. Brewer said.