Current through 2024 NY Law Chapter 226
Section 9 - Application for adjustment of initial legal regulated renta.The owner or tenant of a housing accommodation described in paragraph one or two of subdivision b of section six may, within sixty days of the local effective date of this act or the commencement of the first tenancy thereafter, whichever is later, file with the state division of housing and community renewal an application for adjustment of the initial legal regulated rent for such housing accommodation. The state division of housing and community renewal may adjust such initial legal regulated rent upon a finding that the presence of unique or peculiar circumstances materially affecting the initial legal regulated rent has resulted in a rent which is substantially different from the rents generally prevailing in the same area for substantially similar housing accommodations.b.The tenant of a housing accommodation described in paragraph two, subdivision b, of section six may file with the state division of housing and community renewal, within ninety days after notice has been received pursuant to subdivision c of this section, an application for adjustment of the initial legal regulated rent for such housing accommodation. Such tenant need only allege that such rent is in excess of the fair market rent and shall present such facts which, to the best of his information and belief, support such allegation. The rent guidelines board shall promulgate as soon as practicable after its creation guidelines for the determination of fair market rents for housing accommodations as to which an application may be made pursuant to this subdivision. In rendering a determination on an application filed pursuant to this subdivision b, the state division of housing and community renewal shall be guided by such guidelines. Where the state division of housing and community renewal has determined that the rent charged is in excess of the fair market rent it shall order a refund, of any excess paid since January first, nineteen hundred seventy-four or the date of the commencement of the tenancy, whichever is later. Such refund shall be made by the landlord in cash or as a credit against future rents over a period not in excess of six months.c.Upon receipt of any application filed pursuant to this section nine, the state division of housing and community renewal shall notify the owner or tenant, as the case may be, and provide a copy to him of such application. Such owner or tenant shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to respond to the application. A hearing may be held upon the request of either party, or the division may hold a hearing on its own motion. The division shall issue a written opinion to both the tenant and the owner upon rendering its determination.d.Within thirty days after the local effective date of this act the owner of housing accommodations described in paragraph two of subdivision b of section six, as to which an emergency has been declared pursuant to this act, shall give notice in writing by certified mail to the tenant of each such housing accommodation on a form prescribed by the state division of housing and community renewal of the initial legal regulated rent for such housing accommodation and of such tenant's right to file an application for adjustment of the initial legal regulated rent of such housing accommodation.e.The initial legal regulated rents for housing accommodations in a city having a population of one million or more shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of the New York city rent stabilization law as amended.N.Y. Emergency Tenant Protection Act Law § 9