BILL NUMBER:A10729
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the administrative code of the city of
New York, in relation to tenant screening reports
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: Requires landlords to verify the social
security numbers of a tenant applicant prior to rejecting the applica-
tion of such applicant.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1. Section 20-808 of the admin-
istrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subdi-
vision c to read as follows: c. If the person requesting the information
takes adverse action against a prospective tenant or tenants on the
basis of information contained in a tenant screening report, such person
shall verify the accuracy of the social security number of such tenant
or tenants with such tenant or tenants before such person rejects the
rental application submitted by such tenant or tenants.
JUSTIFICATION: There have been many instances when landlords request
tenant screening report for potential renters, and receive inaccurate
information, resulting in an unfair disadvantage for both parties. This
occurs if the potential renter may have the same name (i.e. John Smith)
as those who have a bad tenant history. Individuals who have clean
tenant reports fall victim to a poorly structured system. All of the
data in the tenant screening reports should be organized by Social Secu-
rity numbers and not just by a potential renter's name to avoid such
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10729
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 16, 2010
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BROOK-KRASNY -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to tenant screening reports
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 20-808 of the administrative code of the city of
New York is amended by adding a new subdivision c to read as follows:
C. IF THE PERSON REQUESTING THE INFORMATION TAKES ADVERSE ACTION
AGAINST A PROSPECTIVE TENANT OR TENANTS ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN A TENANT SCREENING REPORT, SUCH PERSON SHALL VERIFY THE
ACCURACY OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OF SUCH TENANT OR TENANTS WITH
SUCH TENANT OR TENANTS BEFORE SUCH PERSON REJECTS THE RENTAL APPLICATION
SUBMITTED BY SUCH TENANT OR TENANTS.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the same date as local law number 2
of the city of New York for the year 2010, amending the administrative
code of the city of New York relating to disclosure of the use of tenant
screening reports, takes effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16639-01-0
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