Assembly Bill A10306

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10306
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 20, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ROSENTHAL  --  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  providing  additional  protections  for  tenants who are
   harassed by landlords
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Subparagraphs g and h of paragraph 48 of subdivision a of
 section 27-2004 of the administrative code of the city of New  York,  as
 amended  by  local  law  number 144 of the city of New York for the year
 2025, are amended and five new subparagraphs i, j, k, l  and m are added
 to read as follows:
   g. other repeated  acts  or  omissions  of  such  significance  as  to
 substantially  interfere  with  or disturb the comfort, repose, peace or
 quiet of any person lawfully entitled to occupancy of such dwelling unit
 and that cause or are intended to  cause  such  person  to  vacate  such
 dwelling  unit  or  to surrender or waive any rights in relation to such
 occupancy, including improperly requiring such person to  seek,  receive
 or refrain from submitting to medical treatment in violation of subdivi-
 sion b of section 26-1201; [or]
   h. any conduct in violation of section 26-521[.];
   I.  WITHDRAWING  OR  ATTEMPTING  TO WITHDRAW UNAUTHORIZED FUNDS FROM A
 TENANT'S BANK ACCOUNT;
   J. ENGAGING IN A PATTERN OF CONDUCT THAT REPEATEDLY VIOLATES  SUBPARA-
 GRAPH I OF THIS PARAGRAPH;
   K.  REPEATEDLY FURNISHING TENANTS WITH FALSE OR MISLEADING RENT STATE-
 MENTS FOR RENT WHICH THE LANDLORD  KNOWS  OR  HAS  REASON  TO  KNOW  HAS
 ALREADY BEEN TENDERED OR IS NOT OWED;
   L. REFUSING TO REIMBURSE OR APPLY RENT CREDITS WITHIN THIRTY DAYS; OR
   M.  COMMENCING  ONE OR MORE NON-PAYMENT PROCEEDINGS FOR RENT WHICH THE
 LANDLORD KNOWS OR HAS REASON TO KNOW IS NOT DUE, OR FOR  RENT  THAT  HAS
 BEEN TENDERED AND REFUSED WITHOUT REASON.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14819-02-6
 A. 10306                            2
              

 
   §  2. Subdivision (o) of section 27-2115 of the administrative code of
 the city of New York, as added by local law number 148 of  the  city  of
 New York for the year 2017, is amended to read as follows:
   (o)  In  any  action  brought  by a lawful occupant or group of lawful
 occupants under subdivision [h] (H) of this section for a  violation  of
 subdivision  d  of  section  27-2005  of  this chapter, the housing part
 shall, in addition to any other  relief  such  court  determines  to  be
 appropriate, award to each such occupant (i) compensatory damages or, at
 the  election of such occupant, one thousand dollars and (ii) reasonable
 attorneys' fees and costs. Such court may also, at its sole  discretion,
 award  punitive  damages.  FURTHER,  IN  THE  CASE OF AN OWNER VIOLATING
 SUBPARAGRAPHS I, J, K, L, AND M OF PARAGRAPH  48  OF  SUBDIVISION  A  OF
 SECTION  27-2004 OF THIS CHAPTER SUCH LAWFUL OCCUPANT OR GROUP OF LAWFUL
 OCCUPANTS SHALL BE AWARDED TREBLE DAMAGES.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.