S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5367
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 27, 2009
___________
Introduced by Sen. DUANE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to tenants' right to
recover attorneys' fees incurred as a result of service of notice
based upon false facts or allegations
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The real property law is amended by adding a new section
234-a to read as follows:
S 234-A. TENANTS' RIGHT TO RECOVER CERTAIN ATTORNEYS' FEES. THERE
SHALL BE IMPLIED IN A LEASE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY A COVENANT BY THE
LANDLORD TO PAY TO THE TENANT THE REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES AND/OR
EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE TENANT AS THE RESULT OF THE SERVICE BY OR ON
BEHALF OF THE LANDLORD OF A NOTICE TO CURE A VIOLATION OF THE LEASE, A
NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF THE LEASE OR A NOTICE OF REFUSAL TO RENEW THE
LEASE WHERE SUCH NOTICE CONTAINS ANY FACT OR ALLEGATION THAT IS NOT
TRUE. WHERE SUCH NOTICE IS KNOWINGLY SERVED CONTAINING ANY FACT OR ALLE-
GATION THAT IS NOT TRUE, THE LANDLORD SHALL BE LIABLE FOR THREE TIMES
THE AMOUNT OF SUCH ATTORNEYS' FEES AND/OR EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE
TENANT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AN ACTION OR SUMMARY PROCEEDING IS
COMMENCED BY THE LANDLORD BASED ON SUCH NOTICE. SUCH FEES AND EXPENSES
MAY BE RECOVERED AS PROVIDED BY LAW IN AN ACTION COMMENCED AGAINST THE
LANDLORD OR BY WAY OF COUNTERCLAIM IN ANY ACTION OR SUMMARY PROCEEDING
COMMENCED BY THE LANDLORD AGAINST THE TENANT. ANY WAIVER OF THIS SECTION
SHALL BE VOID AS AGAINST PUBLIC POLICY.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01468-02-9