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Senate bill · S3198 (2025-26)

Requires the division of housing and community renewal to calculate the period of rent reduction due to diminution of services from the date of actual…

Official titleShow

Requires the division of housing and community renewal to calculate the period of rent reduction due to diminution of services from the date of actual diminution of the services

The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.

Latest action Mar 25, 2025

Summary

Requires the division of housing and community renewal to calculate the period of rent reduction due to diminution of services from the date of actual diminution of the services.

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Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A6839, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Committee

Housing · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Housing, Construction And Community Development · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section One of the legislation states that notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, any rent reduction attributable to diminution of services shall be calculated by the division of housing and community renewal to be effective upon the date that the diminution of service commenced, regardless of when that diminution of services was reported to the division or the date upon which the diminution of services was addressed by the division. Such rent reduction shall be applicable to the entire period in which it is found the services were not maintained in full.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateMar 25, 2025Result: passed

    (40) (22) (0) (1)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Housing, Construction And Community Development

    Senate Housing, Construction And Community DevelopmentFeb 3, 2025Result: passed

    (8) (3) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Lea Webb and Robert Jackson

  • Democratic2
See the full list on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

The sponsor's argument

Why the sponsor says this is needed

This bill directs the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) that any rent reduction for diminution of services should be effective for the entire period for which it is found that the services have not been maintained. Current DHCR policy with respect to rent reductions for regulated tenants who have experienced a diminution of services in their apartment or building is incompatible with the Rent Stabilization Code (RSC), and runs the risk of denying tenants compensation to which they are other- wise entitled. The DHCR's "Fact Sheet 14: Rent Reductions for Decreased Services" says that rent regulated tenants who experience a decrease in service in an individual apartment or building-wide must first contact the owner about the complaint in writing. If that does not resolve the problem, the tenant may file a complaint with the DHCR. If the evidence indicates that the owner failed to maintain required services, the DHCR can issue a written order that directs the owner to restore services and reduces the rent for the apartment. It is DHCR's practice, and Fact Sheet 14 states, that "The effective date for rent stabilized tenants is retroactive back to the first day of the month following DHCR's service of the complaint on the owner. For rent controlled tenants, the effective date is the first day of the month after the order is issued." However, if tenants are denied their contractually obligated services, their remedy should not be limited to the period after DHCR has had time to serve notice on the owner. In fact, Section 2523.4(a)(1) of the RSC provides that "the DHCR shall so reduce the rent for the period for which it is found that the owner has failed to maintain required services," This bill would bring DHCR practice into compliance with the RSC.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

  1. Mar 25, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  2. Mar 25, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  3. Mar 25, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HOUSING

    NY Assembly

  4. Feb 5, 2025

    Advanced to Third Reading

    ADVANCED TO THIRD READING

    NY Senate

  5. Feb 4, 2025

    2ND Report CAL.

    2ND REPORT CAL.

    NY Senate

Show full history (2 earlier events)
  1. Feb 3, 2025

    1ST Report CAL.217

    1ST REPORT CAL.217

    NY Senate

  2. Jan 24, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

    NY Senate

About this record

Summary

The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.

Cosponsors

The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Party colors

Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.

Source

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 1, 2026. About our data

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