Int. No. 1920
By Council Members Gibson and Chin
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to certifying the habitability of dwelling units rented through the special one-time assistance program
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-144 to read as follows:
§ 21-144 Certification of habitability for certain rental assistance dwelling units. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Rental assistance. The term “rental assistance” means financial assistance provided by the department for the purpose of paying an individual’s rent on an ongoing basis and includes the financial assistance provided through the special one-time assistance program, and any successor program.
Special one-time assistance program. The term “special one-time assistance program” means a fully city-funded rental assistance program that provides one year of rental assistance to homeless individuals for which the department determines eligibility, and any successor program.
b. The department shall require landlords and brokers to certify the habitability of prospective dwelling units located within the city and outside the city rented through the special one-time assistance program. Such certification shall be in such form and require such information as prescribed by the department, including but not limited to the following information:
1. Attestation that the dwelling unit is in compliance with all applicable building and housing code standards of the relevant jurisdiction; and
2. (a) Attestation of a valid certificate of occupancy or habitability or other equivalent document from the relevant jurisdiction and that the dwelling unit’s use or type of occupancy is in compliance with such document; or
(b) Attestation that no such document is required by the jurisdiction in which the dwelling unit is located but the dwelling unit’s use or type of occupancy is in compliance with the relevant jurisdiction’s standards.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law, except that the commissioner of social services shall take such measures as are necessary for the implementation of this local law, including the promulgation of rules, before such date.
MHL
LS #13212
02/11/20