Bill Text: NY A07467 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Amended


Bill Title: Relates to the regulation of interim multiple dwellings.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-01-18 - committed to housing [A07467 Detail]

Download: New_York-2011-A07467-Amended.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                        7467--A
                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                      May 4, 2011
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. V. LOPEZ -- read once and referred to the Commit-
         tee  on  Housing -- reported and referred to the Committee on Codes --
         committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended  and
         recommitted to said committee
       AN ACT to amend the multiple dwelling law, in relation to interim multi-
         ple dwellings
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 281 of the multiple dwelling  law,
    2  as  added  by  chapter  349  of  the laws of 1982, is amended to read as
    3  follows:
    4    1. Except as provided in subdivision two of  this  section,  the  term
    5  "interim  multiple  dwelling" means any building or structure or portion
    6  thereof located in a city of more than one million persons which (i)  at
    7  any  time  was  occupied  for  manufacturing,  commercial,  or warehouse
    8  purposes; and (ii) lacks a certificate of compliance or occupancy pursu-
    9  ant to section three hundred one of this  chapter,  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY
   10  OTHER PORTION OF ANY SUCH BUILDING HAVING A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE OR
   11  OCCUPANCY  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  THREE HUNDRED ONE OF THIS CHAPTER; and
   12  (iii) on December first, nineteen hundred eighty-one  was  occupied  for
   13  residential  purposes  since April first, nineteen hundred eighty as the
   14  residence or home of any three or more families living independently  of
   15  one another.
   16    S  2.  Subdivision  3  of section 281 of the multiple dwelling law, as
   17  added by chapter 349 of the laws of 1982, is amended to read as follows:
   18    3. In addition to the residents of an interim multiple dwelling, resi-
   19  dential occupants in units first occupied after  April  first,  nineteen
   20  hundred  eighty  and  prior  to April first, nineteen hundred eighty-one
   21  shall be qualified for protection pursuant  to  this  article,  provided
   22  that  the  building  or  any  portion  thereof otherwise qualifies as an
   23  interim multiple dwelling, and the tenants are eligible under the  local
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD11449-02-1
       A. 7467--A                          2
    1  zoning resolution for such occupancy. A reduction in the number of occu-
    2  pied  residential  units  in  a  building after December first, nineteen
    3  hundred eighty-one shall not eliminate the protections of  this  article
    4  for  any remaining residential occupants qualified for such protections.
    5  Non-residential space in a building as of [the effective date of the act
    6  which added this article] JUNE TWENTY-FIRST, NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO
    7  shall be offered for residential use only after the obtaining of a resi-
    8  dential certificate of occupancy for such space, and such space shall be
    9  exempt from this article, even if a portion of such building may  be  an
   10  interim multiple dwelling.
   11    S  3.  Subdivision  5  of section 281 of the multiple dwelling law, as
   12  amended by chapter 147 of the laws  of  2010,  is  amended  to  read  as
   13  follows:
   14    5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (i), (iii) and (iv) of
   15  subdivision  two of this section, but subject to paragraphs (i) and (ii)
   16  of subdivision one of this section and paragraph (ii) of subdivision two
   17  of this section, the term  "interim  multiple  dwelling"  shall  include
   18  buildings,  structures or portions thereof that are located in a city of
   19  more than one  million  persons  which  were  occupied  for  residential
   20  purposes  as  the residence or home of any three or more families living
   21  independently from one another for a period of twelve consecutive months
   22  during the period commencing January  first,  two  thousand  eight,  and
   23  ending December thirty-first, two thousand nine, provided that the unit:
   24  is  not  located  in  a basement or cellar and has at least one entrance
   25  that does not require passage through another residential unit to obtain
   26  access to the unit, has at least one window opening onto a street  or  a
   27  lawful  yard or court as defined in the zoning resolution for such muni-
   28  cipality, and is at least five hundred fifty square feet in area.    The
   29  term  "interim  multiple dwelling" as used in this subdivision shall not
   30  include (i) any building in  an  industrial  business  zone  established
   31  pursuant to chapter six-D of title twenty-two of the administrative code
   32  of   the   city   of   New   York   except   that   a  building  in  the
   33  Williamsburg/Greenpoint or North Brooklyn industrial business zones  and
   34  a  building  located  in that portion of the Long Island city industrial
   35  business zone that has frontage on either side of forty-seventh [street]
   36  AVENUE or is located north of forty-seventh [street] AVENUE and south of
   37  Skillman avenue or in that portion of the Long  Island  city  industrial
   38  business  zone  that  is  located  north of forty-fourth drive, south of
   39  Queens plaza north, and west of twenty-third street may be  included  in
   40  the  term  "interim  multiple  dwelling,"  or (ii) units in any building
   41  that, at the time this subdivision shall take effect AND  CONTINUING  AT
   42  THE  TIME OF THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR COVERAGE BY ANY PARTY,
   43  also contains a use actively and currently pursued,  which  use  is  set
   44  forth in use groups fifteen through eighteen, as described in the zoning
   45  resolution  of  such  municipality  in  effect on June twenty-first, two
   46  thousand ten, and which the loft board has determined in rules and regu-
   47  lation is inherently incompatible  with  residential  use  in  the  same
   48  building,  provided that if a building does not contain such active uses
   49  at the time this subdivision takes effect,  no  subsequent  use  by  the
   50  owner  of  the  building shall eliminate the protections of this section
   51  for any residential occupants in the building already qualified for such
   52  protections. The term "interim  multiple  dwelling,"  as  used  in  this
   53  subdivision shall also include buildings, structures or portions thereof
   54  that are located north of West 24th Street and south of West 27th Street
   55  and  west  of tenth avenue and east of eleventh avenue in a city of more
   56  than one million persons which were occupied for residential purposes as
       A. 7467--A                          3
    1  the residence or home of any two or more families  living  independently
    2  from  one  another  for a period of twelve consecutive months during the
    3  period commencing January first, two thousand eight, and ending December
    4  thirty-first,  two  thousand  nine and subject to all the conditions and
    5  limitations of this subdivision other than the number of  units  in  the
    6  building.  A  reduction in the number of occupied residential units in a
    7  building after  meeting  the  aforementioned  twelve  consecutive  month
    8  requirement  shall not eliminate the protections of this section for any
    9  remaining residential occupants qualified for such protections.  Non-re-
   10  sidential space in a building as of [the effective date of this subdivi-
   11  sion]  JUNE TWENTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN shall be offered for residen-
   12  tial use only after  the  obtaining  of  a  residential  certificate  of
   13  occupancy  for such space and such space shall be exempt from this arti-
   14  cle, even if a portion of such  building  may  be  an  interim  multiple
   15  dwelling.
   16    S  4.  Paragraph  (vi) of subdivision 1 of section 284 of the multiple
   17  dwelling law, as amended by chapter 135 of the laws of 2010, is  amended
   18  to read as follows:
   19    (vi)  Notwithstanding  the provisions of paragraphs (i) through (v) of
   20  this subdivision the owner of an interim multiple dwelling made  subject
   21  to this article by subdivision five of section two hundred eighty-one of
   22  this article (A) shall file an alteration application within nine months
   23  from  the [effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand ten
   24  which amended this subparagraph] PROMULGATION OF  THE  RULES  AND  REGU-
   25  LATIONS  PURSUANT  TO SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE
   26  OF THIS ARTICLE, and (B) shall take all reasonable and necessary  action
   27  to  obtain an approved alteration permit within twelve months from [such
   28  effective date] THE PROMULGATION OF THE RULES AND  REGULATIONS  PURSUANT
   29  TO  SUBDIVISION  FIVE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-ONE OF THIS ARTICLE,
   30  and (C) shall achieve compliance with the standards of safety  and  fire
   31  protection set forth in article seven-B of this chapter for the residen-
   32  tial portions of the building within eighteen months from obtaining such
   33  alteration permit [or eighteen months from such effective date, whichev-
   34  er  is later], and (D) shall take all reasonable and necessary action to
   35  obtain a certificate of occupancy as a class A multiple dwelling for the
   36  residential portions of the  building  or  structure  within  thirty-six
   37  months  from  [such  effective  date]  THE PROMULGATION OF THE RULES AND
   38  REGULATIONS PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FIVE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED  EIGHTY-
   39  ONE OF THIS ARTICLE. The loft board may, upon good cause shown, and upon
   40  proof of compliance with the standards of safety and fire protection set
   41  forth  in  article  seven-B  of  this  chapter, twice extend the time of
   42  compliance with the requirement to obtain a residential  certificate  of
   43  occupancy for periods not to exceed twelve months each.
   44    S  5.  Paragraph  (ix) of subdivision 1 of section 284 of the multiple
   45  dwelling law, as amended by chapter 135 of the laws of 2010, is  amended
   46  to read as follows:
   47    (ix)  In  addition  to the penalties provided in article eight of this
   48  chapter, if there is a finding by the  loft  board  that  an  owner  has
   49  failed  to  satisfy  any  requirement  specified in paragraph (i), (ii),
   50  (iii), (iv), (v), or (vi) of this subdivision, a court may order specif-
   51  ic performance to enforce the provisions of this article upon the appli-
   52  cation of [three occupants of separate residential units] ANY  OCCUPANT,
   53  qualified for the protection of this article WHO RESIDES IN THE AFFECTED
   54  INTERIM MULTIPLE DWELLING, or upon the application of the municipality.
       A. 7467--A                          4
    1    S  6.  Subdivision  2  of section 285 of the multiple dwelling law, as
    2  amended by chapter 135 of the laws  of  2010,  is  amended  to  read  as
    3  follows:
    4    2.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this article, an owner may
    5  apply to the loft board for exemption of a building or  portion  thereof
    6  from  this  article  on  the  basis that compliance with this article in
    7  obtaining a legal residential certificate of occupancy  would  cause  an
    8  unjustifiable  hardship  either because: (i) it would cause an unreason-
    9  ably adverse impact on a non-residential conforming  use  tenant  within
   10  the  building  or  (ii) the cost of compliance renders legal residential
   11  conversion infeasible. Residential and other tenants shall be given  not
   12  less  than  sixty  days  notice  in advance of the hearing date for such
   13  application. If the loft board approves such application,  the  building
   14  or  portion  thereof  shall  be  exempt  from  this  article, and may be
   15  converted to non-residential conforming uses,  provided,  however,  that
   16  the  owner  shall, as a condition of approval of such application, agree
   17  to file an irrevocable recorded covenant in  form  satisfactory  to  the
   18  loft  board  enforceable for fifteen years by the municipality, that the
   19  building will not be re-converted to residential uses during such  time.
   20  The  standard  for  granting such hardship application for a building or
   21  portion thereof shall be as follows: (a) the loft board shall only grant
   22  the minimum relief necessary to relieve any alleged  hardship  with  the
   23  understanding if compliance is reasonably possible it should be achieved
   24  even if it requires alteration of units, relocation of tenants to vacant
   25  space  within the building, re-design of space or application for a non-
   26  use-related variance, special permit, minor modification or  administra-
   27  tive  certification; (b) self-created hardship shall not be allowed; (c)
   28  the test for cost infeasibility shall be that of a reasonable return  on
   29  the  owner's  investment  not maximum return on investment; (d) the test
   30  for unreasonably adverse impact  on  a  non-residential  conforming  use
   31  tenant   shall  be  whether  residential  conversion  would  necessitate
   32  displacement. Such hardship applications shall be submitted to the  loft
   33  board  within nine months of the establishment of the loft board (or, in
   34  the case of interim multiple dwellings referred to in  subdivision  four
   35  of section two hundred eighty-one of this article, within nine months of
   36  [the  effective  date of such subdivision four] JUNE TWENTY-FIRST, NINE-
   37  TEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO or in the case  of  interim  multiple  dwellings
   38  made  subject to this article by subdivision five of section two hundred
   39  eighty-one of this article, within nine months of [the effective date of
   40  such subdivision five] JUNE TWENTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN),  but  shall
   41  not  be  considered, absent a waiver by the loft board, unless the owner
   42  has also filed an alteration application. In determination of  any  such
   43  hardship  application,  the loft board may demand such information as it
   44  deems necessary. In approving any such hardship  application,  the  loft
   45  board  may fix reasonable terms and conditions for the vacating of resi-
   46  dential occupancy.
   47    S 7. Section 286 of the multiple dwelling law, as added by chapter 349
   48  of the laws of 1982, subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 414 of the laws
   49  of 1999, subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (ii) of  subdivision  2,
   50  paragraph  (iii) of subdivision 2, and subdivision 3 as amended by chap-
   51  ter 135 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
   52    S 286. Tenant protection. 1. It shall not be a ground for an action or
   53  proceeding to recover possession of a unit  occupied  by  a  residential
   54  occupant qualified for the protection of this article that the occupancy
   55  of  the  unit  is  illegal or in violation of provisions of the tenant's
   56  lease or rental agreement because a residential certificate of occupancy
       A. 7467--A                          5
    1  has not been issued for the building, or because  residential  occupancy
    2  is not permitted by the lease or rental agreement.
    3    2.  (i)  Prior to compliance with safety and fire protection standards
    4  of article seven-B of this chapter, residential occupants qualified  for
    5  protection pursuant to this article shall be entitled to continued occu-
    6  pancy,  provided that the unit is their primary residence, and shall pay
    7  the same rent, [including escalations,]  specified  in  their  lease  or
    8  rental  agreement  to the extent to which such lease or rental agreement
    9  remains in effect or, in the absence of a lease or rental agreement, the
   10  same rent most recently paid and accepted by the owner; if there  is  no
   11  lease  or  other  rental  agreement in effect, rent adjustments prior to
   12  article seven-B compliance shall be in conformity with guidelines to  be
   13  set  by  the loft board for such residential occupants within six months
   14  from [the effective date of this article]  JUNE  TWENTY-FIRST,  NINETEEN
   15  HUNDRED  EIGHTY-TWO,  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT  SUCH  RENT ADJUSTMENTS,
   16  ALLOWED PURSUANT TO THIS  PARAGRAPH,  SHALL  NOT  APPLY  TO  UNITS  MADE
   17  SUBJECT  TO  THIS  ARTICLE  BY  SUBDIVISION  FIVE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED
   18  EIGHTY-ONE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   19    (ii) In addition to any rent adjustment pursuant to paragraph  (i)  of
   20  this  subdivision, on or after June twenty-first, nineteen hundred nine-
   21  ty-two, the rent for residential units  in  interim  multiple  dwellings
   22  that  are not yet in compliance with the requirements of subdivision one
   23  of section two hundred eighty-four of this article shall be adjusted  as
   24  follows:
   25    (A)  Upon the owners' filing of an alteration application, as required
   26  by paragraph (ii), (iii), (iv), (v),  or  (vi)  of  subdivision  one  of
   27  section  two hundred eighty-four of this article, an adjustment equal to
   28  THE COST OF FILING AN ALTERATION  APPLICATION  DIVIDED  BY  EIGHTY-FOUR,
   29  DIVIDED BY THE AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE LOCATED WITHIN ALL OF THE INTER-
   30  IM  MULTIPLE DWELLING UNITS, AND THEN MULTIPLIED BY THE AMOUNT OF SQUARE
   31  FOOTAGE LOCATED WITHIN SUCH INTERIM MULTIPLE DWELLING UNIT UP TO A MAXI-
   32  MUM OF six percent of the rent in effect at the time the owner files the
   33  alteration application.  THE INCREASE PERMITTED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPAR-
   34  AGRAPH SHALL BE COLLECTED AS A MONTHLY SURCHARGE TO THE MAXIMUM RENT. IT
   35  SHALL BE SEPARATELY DESIGNATED AND BILLED  AS  SUCH  AND  SHALL  NOT  BE
   36  COMPOUNDED  BY  ANY  OTHER ADJUSTMENT TO THE MAXIMUM RENT. COLLECTION OF
   37  SURCHARGES PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL CEASE WHEN THE OWNER  HAS
   38  RECOVERED  THE COST OF FILING AN ALTERATION APPLICATION. THE OWNER SHALL
   39  FILE WITH THE LOFT  BOARD  AN  EXPLANATION  OF  HOW  THE  SURCHARGE  WAS
   40  COMPUTED,  AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE COLLECTION OF SUCH
   41  SURCHARGE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CANCELLED CHECKS, INVOICES  AND
   42  SIGNED  CONTRACTS.  SUCH INFORMATION SHALL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY
   43  LEGAL OCCUPANT RESIDING WITHIN THE AFFECTED  INTERIM  MULTIPLE  DWELLING
   44  UNIT.
   45    (B)  Upon  obtaining  an  alteration  permit, as required by paragraph
   46  (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), or  (vi)  of  subdivision  one  of  section  two
   47  hundred  eighty-four of this article, an adjustment equal to THE COST OF
   48  OBTAINING AN ALTERATION PERMIT DIVIDED BY EIGHTY-FOUR,  DIVIDED  BY  THE
   49  AMOUNT  OF  SQUARE  FOOTAGE  LOCATED  WITHIN ALL OF THE INTERIM MULTIPLE
   50  DWELLING UNITS, AND THEN MULTIPLIED BY  THE  AMOUNT  OF  SQUARE  FOOTAGE
   51  LOCATED  WITHIN  SUCH  INTERIM MULTIPLE DWELLING UNIT UP TO A MAXIMUM OF
   52  eight percent of the rent in effect at the time the  owner  obtains  the
   53  alteration permit.  THE INCREASE PERMITTED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH
   54  SHALL  BE COLLECTED AS A MONTHLY SURCHARGE TO THE MAXIMUM RENT. IT SHALL
   55  BE SEPARATELY DESIGNATED AND BILLED AS SUCH AND SHALL NOT BE  COMPOUNDED
   56  BY  ANY  OTHER  ADJUSTMENT TO THE MAXIMUM RENT. COLLECTION OF SURCHARGES
       A. 7467--A                          6
    1  PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL CEASE WHEN THE OWNER  HAS  RECOVERED
    2  THE  COST  OF  OBTAINING AN ALTERATION PERMIT. THE OWNER SHALL FILE WITH
    3  THE LOFT BOARD AN EXPLANATION OF HOW THE SURCHARGE WAS COMPUTED, AND ALL
    4  DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE COLLECTION OF SUCH SURCHARGE, INCLUD-
    5  ING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CANCELLED CHECKS, INVOICES AND SIGNED CONTRACTS.
    6  SUCH  INFORMATION  SHALL  ALSO  BE  MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY LEGAL OCCUPANT
    7  RESIDING WITHIN THE AFFECTED INTERIM MULTIPLE DWELLING UNIT.
    8    (C) Upon achieving compliance with the standards of  safety  and  fire
    9  protection set forth in article seven-B of this chapter for the residen-
   10  tial  portions  of  the  building,  an  adjustment  equal to THE COST OF
   11  ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARDS OF SAFETY  AND  FIRE  PROTECTION
   12  DIVIDED  BY EIGHTY-FOUR, DIVIDED BY THE AMOUNT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE LOCATED
   13  WITHIN ALL OF THE INTERIM MULTIPLE DWELLING UNITS, AND  THEN  MULTIPLIED
   14  BY  THE  AMOUNT  OF  SQUARE FOOTAGE LOCATED WITHIN SUCH INTERIM MULTIPLE
   15  DWELLING UNIT UP TO A MAXIMUM OF six percent of the rent  in  effect  at
   16  the  time  the  owner achieves such compliance.   THE INCREASE PERMITTED
   17  PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL BE COLLECTED AS A MONTHLY  SURCHARGE
   18  TO  THE  MAXIMUM  RENT.  IT SHALL BE SEPARATELY DESIGNATED AND BILLED AS
   19  SUCH AND SHALL NOT BE COMPOUNDED BY ANY OTHER ADJUSTMENT TO THE  MAXIMUM
   20  RENT. COLLECTION OF SURCHARGES PURSUANT TO THIS SUBPARAGRAPH SHALL CEASE
   21  WHEN  THE  OWNER HAS RECOVERED THE COST OF ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE WITH THE
   22  STANDARDS OF SAFETY AND FIRE PROTECTION.  THE OWNER SHALL FILE WITH  THE
   23  LOFT  BOARD  AN  EXPLANATION  OF HOW THE SURCHARGE WAS COMPUTED, AND ALL
   24  DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE COLLECTION OF SUCH SURCHARGE, INCLUD-
   25  ING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CANCELLED CHECKS, INVOICES AND SIGNED CONTRACTS.
   26  SUCH INFORMATION SHALL ALSO BE MADE  AVAILABLE  TO  ANY  LEGAL  OCCUPANT
   27  RESIDING WITHIN THE AFFECTED INTERIM MULTIPLE DWELLING UNIT.
   28    (D) Owners who filed an alteration application prior to [the effective
   29  date   of   this   subparagraph]  JUNE  TWENTY-FIRST,  NINETEEN  HUNDRED
   30  NINETY-TWO shall be entitled to a prospective adjustment  equal  to  six
   31  percent  of  the  rent on [the effective date of this subparagraph] JUNE
   32  TWENTY-FIRST, NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY-TWO.
   33    (E) Owners who obtained an alteration permit  prior  to  June  twenty-
   34  first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-two shall be entitled to a prospective
   35  adjustment equal to fourteen percent of the rent on  June  twenty-first,
   36  nineteen hundred ninety-two.
   37    (F)  Owners  who  achieved compliance with the standards of safety and
   38  fire protection set forth in article seven-B of  this  chapter  for  the
   39  residential  portions  of the building prior to June twenty-first, nine-
   40  teen hundred ninety-two shall be entitled to  a  prospective  adjustment
   41  equal  to  twenty  percent  of  the  rent on June twenty-first, nineteen
   42  hundred ninety-two.
   43    (iii) Any rent adjustments pursuant to paragraph (ii) of this subdivi-
   44  sion shall not apply to units which were rented at  market  value  after
   45  June  twenty-first, nineteen hundred eighty-two and prior to [June twen-
   46  ty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-two. This paragraph shall not apply to
   47  units made subject to this article by subdivision five  of  section  two
   48  hundred  eighty-one of this article] DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
   49  NINE.
   50    (iv) Payment of any rent adjustments pursuant  to  paragraph  (ii)  of
   51  this  subdivision  shall  commence  the  month immediately following the
   52  month in which the act entitling the owner to the adjustment occurred.
   53    3. Upon or after compliance with the safety and fire protection stand-
   54  ards of article seven-B of this chapter, an owner may apply to the  loft
   55  board  for an adjustment of rent based upon the cost of such compliance.
   56  Upon approval by the loft board of such compliance, the loft board shall
       A. 7467--A                          7
    1  set the initial legal regulated  rent,  and  each  residential  occupant
    2  qualified  for  protection  pursuant  to this article shall be offered a
    3  residential lease subject to  the  provisions  regarding  evictions  and
    4  regulation  of  rent set forth in the emergency tenant protection act of
    5  nineteen seventy-four, except to the extent the provisions of this arti-
    6  cle are inconsistent with such act.
    7    4. The initial legal regulated rent  established  by  the  loft  board
    8  shall be equal to (i) the rent in effect, [including escalations,] as of
    9  the  date  of  application  for adjustment ("base rent"), plus, (ii) the
   10  maximum annual  amount  of  any  increase  allocable  to  compliance  as
   11  provided  herein;  and  (iii) the percentage increase then applicable to
   12  one, two or three year leases, as elected by the tenant, as  established
   13  by  the  local  rent  guidelines  board,  and  applied to the base rent,
   14  provided, however, such percentage increases may be adjusted downward by
   15  the loft board if prior increases based on loft board  guidelines  cover
   16  part  of the same time period to be covered by the rent guidelines board
   17  adjustments.
   18    5. An owner may apply to the loft  board  for  rent  adjustments  once
   19  based  upon  the cost of compliance with article seven-B of this chapter
   20  and once based upon the obtaining of a residential certificate of  occu-
   21  pancy.  If the initial legal regulated rent has been set based only upon
   22  article  seven-B  compliance,  a further adjustment may be obtained upon
   23  the obtaining of a residential certificate of occupancy. Upon receipt of
   24  such records as the loft board  shall  require,  the  loft  board  shall
   25  determine  the  costs  necessarily  and  reasonably  incurred, including
   26  financing, in obtaining compliance with this article pursuant to a sche-
   27  dule of reasonable costs to be promulgated  by  it.  The  adjustment  in
   28  maximum  rents  for  compliance  with  this  article shall be determined
   29  either (i) by dividing the amount of the cash cost of such  improvements
   30  exclusive  of  interest  and  service  charges over a ten year period of
   31  amortization, or (ii) by dividing the amount of the cash  cost  of  such
   32  improvements  exclusive  of  interest and service charges over a fifteen
   33  year period of  amortization,  plus  the  actual  annual  mortgage  debt
   34  service  attributable  to  interest  and service charges in each year of
   35  indebtedness to an institutional lender, or other lender approved by the
   36  loft board, incurred by the owner to pay the cash cost of  the  improve-
   37  ments,  provided  that the maximum amount of interest charged includable
   38  in rent shall reflect an annual amortization factor of one-fifteenth  of
   39  the  outstanding  principal balance. Rental adjustments to each residen-
   40  tial unit shall be determined on a basis approved by the loft board.  An
   41  owner may elect that the loft board shall deem the total cost of compli-
   42  ance with this article to be the amounts certified by the [local depart-
   43  ment of housing preservation and development] APPLICABLE LOCAL AGENCY of
   44  such municipality in any certificate of eligibility issued in connection
   45  with  an  application  for  tax exemption or tax abatement to the extent
   46  such certificate reflects categories of costs approved by the loft board
   47  as reasonable and necessary  for  such  compliance.  Rental  adjustments
   48  attributable  to  the  cost  of  compliance  with this article shall not
   49  become part of the base rent for purposes of calculating rents  adjusted
   50  pursuant  to rent guidelines board increases. NO RENT ADJUSTMENT ALLOWED
   51  PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE GIVEN FOR ANY RENT  ADJUSTMENT  TO
   52  COVER COSTS ALLOWED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   53    6. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a residential
   54  tenant  qualified  for  protection pursuant to this chapter may sell any
   55  improvements to the unit made or purchased by him to an incoming  tenant
   56  provided, however, that the tenant shall first offer the improvements to
       A. 7467--A                          8
    1  the  owner for an amount equal to their fair market value. Upon purchase
    2  of such improvements by the owner, any unit subject to  rent  regulation
    3  solely  by reason of this article and not receiving any benefits of real
    4  estate  tax  exemption  or  tax  abatement,  shall  be exempted from the
    5  provisions of this article requiring rent regulation  if  such  building
    6  had  fewer than six [residential] units USED FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES as
    7  of [the effective date of the act which added this article, or rented at
    8  market value subject to subsequent rent regulation if such building  had
    9  six  or  more residential units at such time] DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO
   10  THOUSAND NINE. The loft board  shall  establish  rules  and  regulations
   11  regarding  such sale of improvements which shall include provisions that
   12  such right to sell improvements may be exercised only once for each unit
   13  subject to this article, and  that  the  opportunity  for  decontrol  or
   14  market  rentals  shall  not be available to an owner found guilty by the
   15  loft board of harassment of tenants.
   16    7. The local rent guidelines board shall annually establish guidelines
   17  for rent adjustments for the category of buildings covered by this arti-
   18  cle in accordance with the standards established pursuant to  the  emer-
   19  gency  tenant  protection  act  of nineteen seventy-four. The local rent
   20  guidelines board shall consider the necessity of a separate category for
   21  such buildings, and a separately determined guideline for  rent  adjust-
   22  ments  for  those  units in which heat is not required to be provided by
   23  the owner, and may establish such separate category and guideline.   The
   24  loft  board shall annually commission a study by an independent consult-
   25  ant to assist the rent guidelines board in determining the economics  of
   26  loft housing.
   27    8.  Cooperative  and  condominium  units occupied by owners or tenant-
   28  shareholders shall not be subject to rent regulation  pursuant  to  this
   29  article.
   30    9.  No  eviction  plan  for  conversion  to cooperative or condominium
   31  ownership for a building which is, or a portion of which is  an  interim
   32  multiple dwelling shall be submitted for filing to the department of law
   33  pursuant  to the general business law until a residential certificate of
   34  occupancy is obtained as required by this article, and  the  residential
   35  occupants  qualified for protection pursuant to this article are offered
   36  one, two or three year leases, as elected by such persons, in accordance
   37  with the provisions for establishment of initial  legal  regulated  rent
   38  contained herein. Non-eviction plans for such buildings may be submitted
   39  for  filing  only if the sponsor remains responsible for compliance with
   40  article seven-B and for all work in common areas required  to  obtain  a
   41  residential  certificate  of  occupancy. Cooperative conversion shall be
   42  fully in accordance with section three  hundred  fifty-two-eeee  of  the
   43  general  business  law,  the  requirements of the code of the local real
   44  estate industry stabilization association, and with the rules and  regu-
   45  lations promulgated by the attorney general.
   46    10.  The functions of the local conciliation and appeals board of such
   47  municipality regarding owners and tenants  subject  to  rent  regulation
   48  pursuant  to  this  article shall be carried out by the loft board until
   49  such time as provided otherwise by local law.
   50    11. Residential occupants qualified for protection  pursuant  to  this
   51  article  shall  be  afforded  the  protections  available to residential
   52  tenants pursuant to the real property law and the real property  actions
   53  and proceedings law.  RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANTS SHALL BE ALLOWED TO COMMENCE
   54  AN  ACTION  OR  PROCEEDING  IN  A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION, WHICH
   55  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW  SHALL  INCLUDE  THE  HOUSING
       A. 7467--A                          9
    1  PART OF THE NEW YORK CITY CIVIL COURT, TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
    2  SUBDIVISION.
    3    12.  No  waiver  of  rights  pursuant to this article by a residential
    4  occupant qualified for protection pursuant to this article made prior to
    5  [the  effective  date  of  the  act  which  added  this  article]   JUNE
    6  TWENTY-FIRST, NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO shall be accorded any force or
    7  effect;  however,  subsequent to [the effective date] JUNE TWENTY-FIRST,
    8  NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-TWO an owner  and  a  residential  occupant  may
    9  agree to the purchase by the owner of such person's rights in a unit.
   10    13.  The applicability of the emergency tenant protection act of nine-
   11  teen seventy-four to buildings occupied by residential tenants qualified
   12  for protection pursuant to this article shall be subject to  a  declara-
   13  tion  of  emergency by the local legislative body. In the event such act
   14  expires prior to the expiration of this article,  [tenents]  TENANTS  in
   15  interim  multiple  dwellings  shall  be included in coverage of the rent
   16  stabilization law of nineteen hundred sixty-nine  of  the  city  of  New
   17  York.
   18    S 8. This act shall take effect immediately.
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