Creates the cooperative and condominium ombudsperson program; authorizes the residential unit tax; establishes the cooperative and condominium ombudsperson program fund.
This bill requires courts to award attorney fees - including expert witness costs - to winning parties in discrimination lawsuits under New York's human rights laws (specifically violations of Executive Law Sections 296 and 296-a). It mandates that losing defendants cover these fees and all court costs, but explicitly prohibits the state or its agencies from collecting such fees. The law directly affects plaintiffs who win discrimination cases and defendants who lose them in court. It creates a standard mechanism for fee awards in these cases without altering existing anti-discrimination protections.
Provides that upon sale or other conveyance of a limited-profit housing company project to an entity other than a new limited-profit housing company, reserve and surplus funds must be held in escrow by the new owner and dedicated solely to defraying the costs of major capital improvements; provides that no rental may be increased to cover the cost of a major capital improvement until such reserve and surplus funds have been exhausted.
Requires the modification of restrictive covenants prior to the sale of real property when covenants, conditions and restrictions exist which discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, marital status, disability, national origin, source of income or ancestry.
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.
Authorizes the commissioner of general services to transfer and convey certain lands in the town of Wilton, county of Saratoga, to the Veterans and Community Housing Coalition.
Requires that the entire amount of a rental deposit or advance be refundable to the tenant upon the tenant's vacating of the premises except for an amount lawfully retained for non-payment of rent or utilities, damage caused by the tenant, or storage costs; requires landlord to provide an itemized statement of damages and to return the balance of the deposit within 14 days; requires that tenant be given the opportunity to inspect the rental premises prior to signing a lease; allows a grantee or assignee of the leased premises to demand that an escrow account be opened.
This bill changes New York law to extend the deadline for landlords to return security deposits from 14 to 30 days after a tenant moves out. Landlords must now provide a written explanation for any retained deposit and return the remaining balance within 30 days. If they fail to meet this new deadline, they forfeit the right to keep any portion of the deposit. The bill directly affects residential tenants and landlords in New York state.
Relates to the standards of monthly need for persons in receipt of public assistance; provides for an increased monthly allowance for persons and families residing in shelters.
This bill creates the "Access to Home for Heroes Program" to provide grants for modifying homes to make them accessible for disabled veterans in New York. It directly affects disabled veterans certified by the VA or DoD (with income under 120% of area median income) whose primary residence needs adaptations. Key provisions include: grants up to $500,000 per project for home modifications, requiring eligible nonprofit applicants to submit detailed plans, and limiting municipal funding to 50% of annual allocations. The program must be completed within three years (extendable by two years), with up to 7.5% of funds allowed for administrative costs.
