Addabbo co-sponsored bill to provide eligible residents of former Mitchell-Lama buildings with access to SCRIE and DRIEaid

Under a bill recently passed by the NYS Senate, and co-sponsored by Senator Joe Addabbo, tenants of former Mitchell-Lama buildings may be able to receive rent freezes under the SCRIE and DRIE programs if they meet age, income and other requirements and their landlords agree to limit rent increases to those approved by the NYC Rent Guidelines Board or Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

The SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) and DRIE (Disabled Rent Increase Exemption) programs provide exemptions from some rent increases and other costs for eligible tenants in rent-regulated apartments, the Senator explained. Landlords receive property tax abatements from the City to make up for the cost of the exemptions granted to tenants.

“This legislation seeks to expand the pool of eligible SCRIE and DRIE beneficiaries to include residents of former Mitchell-Lama buildings whose owners opted to leave the program,” Addabbo said. “This initiative would be very useful to senior citizens and disabled tenants living in former Mitchell-Lama buildings who may need help making ends meet with their housing expenses.”

The Mitchell-Lama program was created in the 1950s to increase the supply of affordable middle-class housing in New York City and some other areas of the state. Private developers received certain tax benefits and subsidies to build Mitchell-Lama complexes and to offer affordable rental and purchase options to residents. Building owners could opt out of the program after 20 years.

Under the bill (S.6903), New York City would be granted discretion to permit tenants of former Mitchell-Lama buildings to be eligible for SCRIE and DRIE. This could only happen if the building owner agrees to limit rent increases to those permitted under rulings of the Rent Guidelines Board or another amount approved by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development under a regulatory agreement.

“The lack of affordable housing is an ongoing challenge in New York City,” Addabbo said. “This legislation would give rent relief for elderly and disabled individuals who are most in need of assistance and help them keep roofs over their heads.”

Having passed the Senate, the legislation is now under consideration by the State Assembly Committee on Real Property Taxation.