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Judge Rules City Can End Advantage |
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Thursday, 29 September 2011 09:08 |
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In September, Supreme Court Justice Judith Gische ruled that the city did not have to continue funding the Advantage program. While the city continues to be under an order to pay September 2011 rent, it will no longer have to pay ongoing rents for the 12,000 formerly homeless individuals and families in the program. The city and state announced in the spring that they would stop paying the rents because of the need to cut their social service budgets. The Legal Aid Society sued the city to try and force continued funding for the thousands of tenants who face a return to the shelter system. In mid-September, Gische ruled against the tenants saying that the city, despite contracts with landlords to pay the rents, could end the program. The Legal Aid Society has produced this handout for tenants facing the end of the subsidy. |
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Friday, 15 April 2011 11:54 |
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As a result of budget cuts, the Civil Courts will be shortening their hours. The new hours for the Housing Courts are listed below. Small Claims Court will have evening hours only on Thursdays.
Bronx
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Doors to building will be open 8:30am to 3:45pm; Clerk and Cashier will close at 4pm; Courtrooms close at 4:30pm.
Thursdays: Doors open 8:30am to 6:30pm; Clerk's Office closes at 7pm; Cashier closes at 6:30pm.
All other courts (those with Small Claims - Harlem, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan)
Same as Bronx, except on THURSDAYS doors will remain open until end of Small Claims Court session; Clerk's office closes at 7pm and Cashier at 6:30pm.
Emergencies: Tenants who have been illegally locked out, who need to be restored to possession or if scheduled for eviction the following day should notify the court officer at the door if they arrive after 3:45pm. They will be admitted if they arrive between 3:45 and 4:45pm. No one will be admitted after 4:45pm.
If you, or someone you know, has been turned away from one of the Housing Courts between 3:45 and 4:45pm with an emergency situation, please let us know by calling our hotline: 212-962-4795 (Monday through Thursday, 9am to 5pm; Fridays 9am to 1pm). |
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Friday, 16 April 2010 11:56 |
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In June of 2010, the Tenant Fair Chance Act went into effect. This legislation (sponsored by Council Members Garodnick and Koppel) requires management companies, broker's offices or landlords to notify prospective tenants of whether or not they use tenant screening reports. The law applies to buildings with more than 5 units. The law mandates that the the names of tenant screening bureaus used be posted visibly in the rental office, and that the address of the company be on the poster. The law also requires that those who use written applications include in writing on the form: 1) whether or not they use a tenant screening report, 2) if so, what company they use, and 3) how to contact that office so that a tenant can request a free annual copy of their report.
With this information, a tenant can obtain a copy of their report and attempt to clear up any erroneous information on their record before applying for the apartment. You can find a copy of the Tenant Fair Chance Act here. |
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News! A New York State Court's decision could affect your rights as a tenant. |
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Thursday, 22 October 2009 00:00 |
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News! A New York State Court's decision could affect your rights as a tenant. If you live in an apartment which was de-regulated because the rent went above $2,000, and became vacant or your income was above a certain amount you may have rights as a rent regulated tenant, or you may have the right to collect an overcharge. The building must currently receive a J51 tax benefit for the court's decision to apply. The decision, Roberts v Tishman Speyer LP, was based on a suit filed by tenants in Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village. To see if your building receives a J51 tax abatement, click here: NYC Dept of Finance. The Court of Appeals has affirmed the lower court decision. |
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