City Of Albany: Statement From Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan Regarding Passage Of Historic Fair Housing Legislation

Press release from the City of Albany:

David Galin

July 19, 2021

ALBANY, NY – Mayor Kathy Sheehan has released the following statement after the passage of historic fair housing legislation in Albany:

“Since becoming mayor, my administration has committed itself to improving quality of life, attracting investment, and combatting blight, and this historic, transformative legislation will allow us to enhance our efforts to do just that. I am so proud of our Cities RISE team for working tirelessly to make this proposal a reality, and am so grateful to Councilmembers Balarin, Conti, Fahey, and Anane for supporting our efforts alongside their Council colleagues, Citizen Action, United Tenants, and Housing for All. The City of Albany will now be in a better position to ensure landlords, tenants, and the City have the tools needed to provide secure and quality housing in Albany.”

This historic fair housing legislation – Local Laws F, G, H, and I of 2021 – empowers the City’s Buildings & Regulatory Compliance Department to proactively address building emergencies, modernizes the City’s Rental Dwelling Registry, and creates the first Good Cause Eviction Law in New York State.

These changes will improve the relationship between a landlord and tenant by mandating landlords educate tenants on their rights and responsibilities. This legislation empowers the City to step into the shoes of a property owner to make necessary repairs and charge the property owner, rather than deem a building unsafe and unfit – working to decrease the number of vacant, abandoned, and sometimes demolished, buildings. This legislation also allows the Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance to revoke a residential occupancy permit when an owner seriously neglects their property, and codifies common-sense grounds for eviction by prohibiting rent increases of more than 5% per year when used simply to circumvent eviction laws.

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This press release was produced by the City of Albany. The views expressed here are the author’s own.