BILL NUMBER:A10814

TITLE  OF BILL:   An act to amend the administrative code of the city of
New York, in relation to requiring landlords to provide notice of rental
history upon the signing of a vacancy lease

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill  will  require  landlords  to
furnish new tenants with a rental history itemizing the legal rent-regu-
lated price dating back four years.

SUMMARY  OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: This bill will amend the administrative
code of the city of New York to add section 26-517.2.  Section 26-517.2a
will require an owner to furnish  for  each  tenant  signing  a  vacancy
lease,  a notice in a form promulgated or approved by the state division
of housing and community renewal that sets forth the prior  legal  regu-
lated  rent,  if any, which was in effect for the four years immediately
prior to the vacancy, an explanation of how the rental  amount  provided
for in the vacancy lease has been computed above the amount shown in the
most  recent  annual  registration  statement,  and a statement that any
increase above the amount set forth in such registration statement is in
accordance with the adjustments permitted by the rent  guidelines  board
and this code.

Section  26-517.2b states that upon complaint by the tenant that that he
or she was not furnished with a copy of the notice required pursuant  to
subdivision  of  this  section,  the  division  of housing and community
              

renewal shall order the owner to furnish the notice. If the owner  fails
to comply within twenty days of such order, the owner shall not be enti-
tled  to  collect  any  guidelines  lease  adjustment authorized for any
current lease from the commencement date of such lease.  The  furnishing
of  the notice by the owner to the tenant or hotel occupant shall result
in the elimination, prospectively, of such penalty.

JUSTIFICATION: Rent-regulated dwellings have  a  unique  price  that  is
easily  computed  through  specific formulas. This information should be
made available to incoming tenants in rent-regulated dwellings in  order
to ensure they are not mislead into paying more than the legal maximum.

Owners  that  cannot  provide  this information should not be allowed to
collect additional rent based on major  capitol  improvements,  previous
tenant  occupancy  or  other events that cannot be verified. The nominal
financial penalty incurred as a result of an owner's failure  to  supply
necessary  documentation will incentivize owners to furnish tenants with
accurate and complete rental histories.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: None

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect  immediately,  provided  that
the amendment to chapter 4 of title 26 of the administrative code of the
city  of  New  York  made by section one of this act shall expire on the

same date as such law expires and shall not  affect  the  expiration  of
such law as provided under 26-520 of such law.