File #: Res 0034-2004    Version: * Name: HPD to implement building-wide code enforcement inspections.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Housing and Buildings
On agenda: 2/4/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the appropriate Committee of the Council of the City of New York to hold hearings to compel the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to implement building-wide code enforcement inspections when requested through tenant petitions and to implement neighborhood cyclical inspections in order to preserve the housing stock.
Sponsors: Helen D. Foster, Maria Baez, Charles Barron, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Alan J. Gerson, Robert Jackson, Margarita Lopez, Miguel Martinez, Bill Perkins, Joel Rivera, Albert Vann, Christine C. Quinn, Vincent J. Gentile, Letitia James, Kendall Stewart
Council Member Sponsors: 15

Res. No. 34

 

Resolution calling upon the appropriate Committee of the Council of the City of New York to hold hearings to compel the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to implement building-wide code enforcement inspections when requested through tenant petitions and to implement neighborhood cyclical inspections in order to preserve the housing stock.

 

 

By Council Members Foster, Baez, Barron, Comrie, Gerson, Jackson, Lopez, Martinez, Perkins, Rivera, Vann, Quinn, Gentile, James and Stewart

 

Whereas, The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has the responsibility of preserving the City’s housing stock through the enforcement of the Housing Maintenance Code; and

Whereas, It is essential for HPD to follow-up on code violations with legal action to help save distressed buildings; and

Whereas, HPD should be compelled to perform cyclical inspections of residential buildings in all neighborhoods at the request of community consultants or elected officials, building-wide inspections when requested through tenant petitions and apartment inspections at the request of individual tenants; and

Whereas, It has been reported that HPD has not been conducting building-wide code enforcement inspections despite requests in tenant petitions; and

Whereas, Building-wide code enforcement inspections are essential for tenant involvement in helping to preserve the buildings where these tenants reside and often result in better negotiations with landlords, the commencement of housing court actions where necessary, and the availability of other forms of assistance, including low-cost construction loans from HPD; and

Whereas, The performance of cyclical inspections will help HPD identify buildings in need of intervention and will encourage some landlords to be more responsible for the upkeep of their buildings; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the appropriate Committee of the Council of the City of New York hold hearings to hearings to compel the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to implement building-wide code enforcement inspections when requested through tenant petitions and to implement neighborhood cyclical inspections in order to preserve the housing stock.

 

SJM (resubmission)

1/09/04