Areas of Practice

Rent Regulation

 

Rent regulatory and administrative due diligence.

General advice and consultation regarding owner obligations and tenant rights under the Rent Stabilization Law and Code.

Representation in proceedings before New York State Homes and Community Renewal (a/k/a DHCR), including answering overcharge, harassment and reduced services complaints and filing affirmative applications (for administrative determinations, rent restoration, modification of services, etc).

Prosecution and defense of Article 78 proceedings challenging determinations of the DHCR.

Consultation regarding substantial rehabilitation and newly created units.

 

Single Room Occupancies and Certification of No Harassment

 

General advice and consultation regarding single room occupancy (SRO) buildings, owner obligations, rights of hotel stabilized / permanent tenants and anti-harassment considerations.

Administrative review and consultation regarding "SRO-Restricted" and Pilot Program buildings (including hotels, cooperative buildings and buildings located in special anti-harassment districts) requiring a certification of no harassment (CONH) or exemption in connection with building or apartment renovations or development.

Preparation of applications for CONH and exemption for submission to the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

 

Human Rights

 

Prosecution and defense of claims of discrimination and harassment in housing, including (but not limited to) discrimination and harassment predicated on source of income, disability, race, sex and sexual orientation before the NYC Commission on Human Rights, State Division of Human Rights and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Advice and consultation regarding owner obligations (including obligations of cooperative and condominium boards) and tenant/occupant rights pertaining to reasonable accommodations, including requests to have service and support animals and accommodation requests requiring structural changes to apartments and common areas.

Affordable Housing and Tax Benefits

Advice and consultation regarding tax benefits and related developer and owner obligations with respect to construction, operation, marketing and lease up of buildings receiving 421-a, 421-g, LIHTC and/or Inclusionary Housing benefits.