Monday, August 30, 2010

Landlords can't hide anymore

From WNYC:

The City Council unanimously passed legislation Wednesday that's supposed to make it easier for tenants to identify who owns their buildings. Right now, landlords are required to register with the city but often they do so using P.O. boxes and limited liability companies.

City Councilwoman Melissa Mark Viverito sponsored the legislation and says it requires anyone with at least 25 percent ownership in a building to list their name, address and phone number. "It doesn't allow the landlords to hide behind their companies," she says. "It allows the residents, on their end, to be empowered to be able to hold someone accountable and to contact someone directly when it comes to problems that they may be having."

Housing advocates consider the new law a victory. David Hanzel from the Association for Neighborhood Housing and Development says right now landlords often hide behind limited liability corporations and P.O. boxes:

"I think anybody who owns a property and is renting to tenants should make themselves known and should provide contact information where they could be reached or an accountable party could be reached," he says.

The Rent Stabilization Association calls the new law unnecessary and says the city already requires the names of corporate officers and an emergency contact.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stupid law,city council will have blood on their hands if some deranged tenant hurts someone.

Anonymous said...

I hadn't even considered landlord safety as an issue, but if a tenant doesn't know who the landlord is, the tenant's probably not paying the rent.

Anonymous said...

The landlords will have blood on their hands if they don't fix and repair the fucking buildings.

Bayside Boy said...

yeah its just a real shame that landlords can't just hide behind anonymity, that they have to take responsibility for their holdings. As for safety issues, that's what the police are there for.

Anonymous said...

like I said, It's a stupid law.And you idiots are stupid also.

Anonymous said...

The name of the owner of real property appears on something called a deed, and that deed is a public record, and it's available on the internet: nyc.gov/ACRIS. What more do you need?

Anonymous said...

The name of the owner of real property appears on something called a deed, and that deed is a public record, and it's available on the internet: nyc.gov/ACRIS. What more do you need?

Actually there is something call LLC or a company name.. and the building will be only associated with the company on the record. Then you will have to research the company to find out who OWNS the building..but then it's not that simple. If they have a land trust, you can't see any names nor the real owners.

Anonymous said...

"Actually there is something call LLC or a company name.."

The company or LLC or corproation IS the owner, and it has an address and a service of process contact. This law makes it sound like someone who does business through a corporate entity is trying to hide. It's just pro-tenant pandering from the NYC Council.

Anonymous said...

"Stupid law,city council will have blood on their hands if some deranged tenant hurts someone."

"like I said, It's a stupid law.And you idiots are stupid also."


Do you want some wah wah whine with your cheese?

Cora said...

Good. Maybe this way I learn whom the exact owner of my building is. The lease says one name and PO Box address, rent goes to another name and PO Box address, whenever you call the "contact number" you get an answering system with yet another company name. My previous apartment had almost a similar issue.

Anonymous said...

"Good. Maybe this way I learn whom the exact owner of my building is. The lease says one name and PO Box address, rent goes to another name and PO Box address, whenever you call the "contact number" you get an answering system with yet another company name. My previous apartment had almost a similar issue."

And the people in third world countries have problems? It's called a managing agent!

Cora said...

I would like to know an exact address. And yes, it's my money I work three jobs and I consider it a problem not knowing a physical address.

Speaking of third world countries, I donate every year....do you? Oh I forgot. It's easier to just make uneducated comments on other people's statements instead of having an original thought.

Anonymous said...

the landlords and managing companies demand all this information from tenants. why can't we know who the actual owner of the building is? I am glad that these entities and slumlords can't hide anymore.

Anonymous said...

the landlords and managing companies demand all this information from tenants. why can't we know who the actual owner of the building is? I am glad that these entities and slumlords can't hide anymore.

Oh for Pete's sake - you act like your landlord is the CIA. If you want to find out who they are just stop paying the rent, they'll find you!