S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4718
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 22, 2023
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Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to prohibiting land-
lords from including additional services in a tenant's base rent
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
220-a to read as follows:
§ 220-A. BASE RENT AND NONESSENTIAL SERVICES. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF
THIS SECTION, "NONESSENTIAL SERVICES" SHALL INCLUDE CABLE TELEVISION,
INTERNET SERVICES AND GARAGE USAGE.
2. LANDLORDS SHALL BE PROHIBITED FROM INCLUDING NONESSENTIAL SERVICES
AS A CONDITION OF LEASING A DWELLING IN A PRIMARY WRITTEN OR ORAL LEASE
AGREEMENT.
3. NONESSENTIAL SERVICES MAY BE PROVIDED BY LANDLORDS, IF THE TENANT
AGREES TO HAVE SUCH NONESSENTIAL SERVICES. ANY SERVICES PROVIDED IN THIS
MANNER AND THE TERMS OF USE SHALL BE SET FORTH IN A WRITTEN OR ORAL
AGREEMENT, WHICH SHALL BE A SEPARATE AGREEMENT FROM THE PRIMARY LEASE
AGREEMENT AND SHALL NOT AFFECT THE VALIDITY OR APPLICATION OF THE PRIMA-
RY LEASE AGREEMENT.
4. ANY AGREEMENT PROVISION CONTAINED IN A LEASE FOR A RESIDENTIAL
DWELLING THAT REQUIRES PAYMENT FOR NONESSENTIAL SERVICES AS SET FORTH IN
THIS SECTION SHALL BE VOID AS CONTRARY TO PUBLIC POLICY.
5. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO BUILDINGS THAT
CONTAIN LESS THAN THREE DWELLING UNITS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law, provided, however, that this act shall only apply to
lease agreements signed on or after such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08841-01-3