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New law will put landlords on notice

mayor-signs-billOn June 2, Borough President Gale Brewer, far left, and Councilmember Rosie Mende, near left, celebrated Mayor Bill de Blasio’s signing of legislation requiring landlords to provide tenants with advance notice for non-emergency repair work that will result in disruptions to building services.

The law establishes a baseline of 24 hours advance notice for most work. For work affecting elevators, the bill requires 10 business days notice for major alteration work and 24 hours notice for any other work that will suspend all elevator service for more than two hours.

“It’s no secret that no-notice quality-of-life disruptions labeled as ‘maintenance work’ are a frequent harassment tactic to push tenants out of rent-stabilized apartments,” Brewer said. “This law…will take another harassment tool away from abusive landlords.”

“This legislation codifies common sense and common courtesy,” Mendez said.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Department of Buildings will enforce the new law, which will take effect this fall.