S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
663
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 5, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sen. KAVANAGH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to providing certif-
ication and registration requirements for property managers of cooper-
atives and condominiums
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The real property law is amended by adding a new article
12-D to read as follows:
ARTICLE 12-D
RESIDENTIAL REALTY MANAGEMENT
SECTION 448. RESIDENTIAL REALTY MANAGEMENT.
§ 448. RESIDENTIAL REALTY MANAGEMENT. 1. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE,
UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES:
(A) "CERTIFICATION" SHALL MEAN A DESIGNATION BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS MET THE PREDETERMINED QUALIFICATIONS WHICH ARE
DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE A LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY ADEQUATE TO PERFORM THE
DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF REAL PROPERTY USED FOR RESIDEN-
TIAL PURPOSES AND OWNED AS A COOPERATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM.
(B) "PROPERTY MANAGER" SHALL MEAN ANY PERSON WHO, IN RETURN FOR REMUN-
ERATION OR COMPENSATION OF ANY KIND, PERFORMS RESIDENTIAL REALTY MANAGE-
MENT FOR REAL PROPERTY OWNED AS A CONDOMINIUM OR COOPERATIVE. PROPERTY
MANAGER SHALL NOT MEAN OR INCLUDE:
(1) A SHAREHOLDER OR OWNER OF THE COOPERATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM ACTING AS
A PROPERTY MANAGER WITHOUT REMUNERATION OR COMPENSATION OF ANY KIND; OR
(2) ANY DEVELOPER OR SPONSOR OF A COOPERATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM DURING
THE PERIOD THAT THE DEVELOPER OR SPONSOR RETAINS CONTROL OF THE COOPER-
ATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM; PROVIDED THAT THE DEVELOPER OR SPONSOR HAS IN ITS
EMPLOY OR HAS RETAINED A PROPERTY MANAGER CERTIFIED UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
(C) "RESIDENTIAL REALTY MANAGEMENT" SHALL MEAN EITHER:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02999-01-3
S. 663 2
(1) THE PERFORMANCE OF PRINCIPAL MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A
COOPERATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM; AND THE AUTHORITY FOR POLICY OR FINANCIAL
DECISION MAKING FOR ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: MAINTENANCE,
SECURITY, ENERGY CONSERVATION, CODE COMPLIANCE, LABOR RELATIONS, FISCAL
BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES, TENANT RELATIONS, GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS,
JANITORIAL SERVICES OR ANY OTHER PROVIDED SERVICE; OR
(2) THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COLLECTION AND EXPENDITURE OF MONIES
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF SUCH COOPERATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM, ITS OWNERS AND/OR
MANAGING BOARD, UNDER WHATEVER NAME KNOWN.
2. NO PERSON SHALL PERFORM RESIDENTIAL REALTY MANAGEMENT UNLESS SUCH
PERSON SHALL HAVE FILED A PROPERTY MANAGER REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH
THE SECRETARY OF STATE AS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION AND HAS BEEN ISSUED
BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE A CERTIFICATE DEMONSTRATING THAT SUCH REGIS-
TRANT HAS SATISFIED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION AS A PROPERTY
MANAGER AS SET FORTH BY THIS ARTICLE.
NO COOPERATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM BOARD SHALL EMPLOY ANY PERSON FOR THE
PURPOSE OF PERFORMING RESIDENTIAL REALTY MANAGEMENT UNLESS SUCH PERSON
HAS BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE. NOR SHALL
THE COOPERATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM BOARD EMPLOY ANY FIRM, PARTNERSHIP,
CORPORATION OR OTHER ENTITY UNLESS ITS PROPERTY MANAGERS ARE CERTIFIED
BY THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
3. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL PROMULGATE THE FORM OF THE REGISTRA-
TION STATEMENT TO BE KNOWN AS THE "PROPERTY MANAGER REGISTRATION STATE-
MENT." THE PROPERTY MANAGER REGISTRATION STATEMENT FORM SHALL REQUIRE,
BUT NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
(A) THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE PERSON FILING THE REGISTRATION TO
OBTAIN CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE;
(B) THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE CORPORATION, FIRM, ASSOCIATION, PART-
NERSHIP OR OTHER ENTITY THAT CURRENTLY EMPLOYS THE APPLICANT;
(C) THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ALL PARTNERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND
PRINCIPALS OF SUCH CORPORATION, FIRM, ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP OR OTHER
ENTITY THAT CURRENTLY EMPLOYS THE APPLICANT;
(D) A STATEMENT INDICATING WHETHER THE APPLICANT HAS:
(1) BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY CRIME INVOLVING FRAUD OR DISHONESTY OR HAD
ANY CIVIL JUDGMENTS RELATING TO WORK AS A REAL PROPERTY MANAGER;
(2) EVER HAD A REAL ESTATE BROKER'S LICENSE, AND IF SO, WHETHER SUCH
LICENSE WAS EVER REVOKED OR SUSPENDED;
(3) AT ANY TIME IN THE PAST BEEN ISSUED A CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
THIS SECTION, AND IF SO, WHETHER SUCH CERTIFICATION WAS EVER REVOKED OR
SUSPENDED;
(E) THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN RESIDEN-
TIAL REALTY MANAGEMENT WHERE APPLICABLE AND A LIST OF EACH BUILDING FOR
WHICH THE REGISTRANT HAS PERFORMED RESIDENTIAL REALTY MANAGEMENT AND THE
DATES AND ADDRESSES THEREOF;
(F) THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE APPROVED PROPERTY MANAGER TRAINING
PROGRAM THAT THE APPLICANT HAS SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED AND THE DATE OF
SUCH COMPLETION, IF REQUIRED; AND
(G) A SWORN STATEMENT BY THE PROPERTY MANAGER THAT THE INFORMATION SET
FORTH IN THE STATEMENT IS CURRENT AND ACCURATE.
4. EVERY CERTIFICATION ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE
RENEWED AS SET FORTH BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE BUT IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
TERM OF SUCH CERTIFICATION EXCEED TWO YEARS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE
SHALL COLLECT A FEE OF FIFTY DOLLARS FOR EACH CERTIFICATION AND EACH
RENEWAL PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
5. A CERTIFIED PROPERTY MANAGER SHALL GIVE THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WRITTEN NOTIFICATION WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF ANY MATERIAL CHANGE OF
S. 663 3
CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH VARIES FROM THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN HIS OR HER
SWORN PROPERTY MANAGER REGISTRATION STATEMENT PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED TO THE
SECRETARY OF STATE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT,
RETIREMENT, RESIGNATION OR TERMINATION.
6. THE SECRETARY OF STATE, UPON THE RECEIPT AND REVIEW OF A SATISFAC-
TORILY COMPLETED PROPERTY MANAGER REGISTRATION STATEMENT, MAY ISSUE A
CERTIFICATION TO ANY APPLICANT WHO HAS:
(A) (1) SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A PROPERTY MANAGER TRAINING PROGRAM
APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHICH PROVIDES THE APPLICANT WITH THE
REQUISITE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING NECESSARY TO PERFORM RESIDEN-
TIAL REALTY MANAGEMENT AS DEFINED BY PARAGRAPH (C) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF
THIS SECTION, OR (2) BEEN GAINFULLY EMPLOYED AS A PROPERTY MANAGER AS
DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION FOR THE FIVE
YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ENACTMENT OF THIS SECTION; AND
(B) HAS MET ANY OTHER CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE
IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CERTIFICATION AS A PROPERTY MANAGER;
OR
(C) HAS DEMONSTRATED, IN THE CASE OF A CERTIFIED PROPERTY MANAGER
APPLYING FOR RECERTIFICATION, THE COMPETENCY AND INTEGRITY TO CONTINUE
TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF A PROPERTY MANAGER AND HAS NOT HAD SUCH CERTIF-
ICATION REVOKED.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY REFUSE TO ISSUE A CERTIFICATE TO ANY
PERSON WHO HE OR SHE FINDS, AFTER NOTICE AND HEARING, HAS BEEN CONVICTED
OF ANY CRIME INVOLVING FRAUD OR DISHONESTY, OR WHERE REFUSAL WILL IN HIS
OR HER JUDGMENT, BEST PROMOTE THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.
7. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA, AND
SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS, FOR: (A) APPROVING OR DISAPPROVING APPLI-
CATIONS FOR CERTIFICATIONS TO ACT AS A PROPERTY MANAGER; AND (B) THE
APPROVAL OF AND THE PERIODIC REVIEW OF CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAMS.
ANY COMPLAINT IN CONNECTION WITH AN ACTION TAKEN OR INACTION BY THE
SECRETARY OF STATE PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE WITHIN THE PURVIEW
OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE. IN ESTABLISHING THE PROCEDURES REQUIRED BY
THIS SUBDIVISION, THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY PROVIDE THAT ANY ORGANIZA-
TION WHICH HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AS AN APPROVED CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROGRAM MAY ACT
AS SUCH PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.
8. THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY REFUSE TO RENEW, OR MAY REVOKE OR
SUSPEND THE CERTIFICATION OF ANY PROPERTY MANAGER, IF, AFTER NOTICE AND
HEARING, HE OR SHE FINDS THAT SUCH PROPERTY MANAGER HAS FAILED TO COMPLY
WITH ANY OF THE REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY THE PROVISIONS HEREIN AND IF IN
HIS OR HER JUDGMENT SUCH SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION IS REASONABLY NECES-
SARY TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE. THE SECRETARY
OF STATE MAY IN HIS OR HER DISCRETION REINSTATE SUCH CERTIFICATION WHERE
SUCH GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION NO LONGER EXISTS.
9. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY PROPERTY
MANAGER OR ANY FIRM, ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP, ENTITY AND ANY AFFILIATE
OF SUCH FIRM, ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP OR ENTITY EMPLOYING A PROPERTY
MANAGER, CONTRACTING WITH A PROPERTY MANAGER OR CONTRACTING TO PROVIDE A
PROPERTY MANAGER, IF ALL THE CONDOMINIUMS OR COOPERATIVES FOR WHICH SUCH
PROPERTY MANAGER, FIRM, ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP, ENTITY AND ANY AFFIL-
IATE OF SUCH FIRM, ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP OR ENTITY PERFORMS SERVICES
COMPRISES LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE RESIDENTIAL UNITS.
10. ANY PROPERTY MANAGER OR ANY FIRM, ASSOCIATION, PARTNERSHIP, CORPO-
RATION OR OTHER ENTITY, OTHER THAN A COOPERATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM BOARD,
EMPLOYING A PROPERTY MANAGER, CONTRACTING WITH A PROPERTY MANAGER OR
CONTRACTING TO PROVIDE A PROPERTY MANAGER THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE
S. 663 4
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO
EXCEED ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A FIRST VIOLATION, TWO THOUSAND FIVE
HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A SECOND VIOLATION, AND FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A
THIRD OR SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION.
ANY COOPERATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM BOARD WHICH KNOWINGLY HIRES AN UNREGIS-
TERED PROPERTY MANAGER MAY BE LIABLE FOR A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
11. ALL MONIES COLLECTED WHILE PERFORMING RESIDENTIAL REALTY MANAGE-
MENT SHALL BE SEGREGATED AND SEPARATE ACCOUNTS SHALL BE MAINTAINED FOR
EACH CONDOMINIUM OR COOPERATIVE BEING MANAGED. ANY VIOLATION OF THIS
PROVISION SHALL CONSTITUTE A MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY A FINE NOT TO
EXCEED FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
12. WHEN A PROPERTY MANAGER CEASES TO PERFORM RESIDENTIAL REALTY
MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR A COOPERATIVE OR CONDOMINIUM, THE PROPERTY
MANAGER WITHIN TEN BUSINESS DAYS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO TURN OVER ALL
BUILDING RECORDS AND ALL FUNDS, WHICH HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO HIS OR HER
CARE OR ARE IN HIS OR HER POSSESSION, TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
COOPERATIVE OR BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE CONDOMINIUM OR THEIR DESIGNEE.
NEVERTHELESS, SUCH FUNDS AND/OR RECORDS REQUIRING BANK RECONCILIATION
SHALL BE TURNED OVER WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF TERMINATION.
13. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO ENFORCE THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law; provided, however, that subdivision 2 of section 448
of the real property law, as added by section one of this act, shall
take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date upon which
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.