

Thus, if the tenant, not knowing the fine points of the law, writes, “Contact me about a buyout,” the landlord is at peril if responding with the word “when?” unless that response from the landlord is made during normal business hours. However, if the tenant initiates the contact in writing, the landlord may respond, but again not during usual working hours unless the tenant’s contact says so. Thus, the only tenants who can be contacted are those who either work unusual hours or are out of work. The tenant is not to be contacted Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or outside of business hours. Under the new laws, it is considered harassing a tenant when one repeatedly contacts or visits the tenant at any time other than when would expect the tenant to be away at work.


of harassment now include lying to a tenant in some manner related to the occupancy of the unit, lying about rent regulation or construction, interrupting services once where there have been repeated interruptions elsewhere in the building, repeatedly failing to cure violations, repeatedly falsely certifying the correction of violations, repeatedly engaging in construction that requires a permit without actually having such a permit, bringing one frivolous action against a tenant where there have been repeated other frivolous actions against other tenants in the building, or trying to buy out a tenant under circumstances we will discuss immediately below. Under the new laws, there is now a rebuttable presumption that the landlord’s acts were intended to get the tenant to move out or otherwise waive rights, except with relation to private dwellings. Local Law 184 of 2017, effective February 5, 2018, Local Law 24 of 2018, effective April 30, 2018, and Local Law 48 of 2018, effective also expanded the definition.
#DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINS TADAM LEITMAN BAILEY CODE#
Local Laws 162, 163, and 164 all expand the definition of harassment as found in New York City Administrative Code §27-2004(48) and all took effect on December 28, 2017. This article focuses on the numerous enactments related to harassment, bedbugs, and smoking, the first two of which expand tenants’ rights and the final one intended to constrict them. 9, 2017 and in the ensuing months, becoming effective at scattered times over the ensuing year, the City Council enacted numerous provisions falling into three areas: general landlord/tenant relations, harassment, and construction and sales of properties.
