S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1535
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. KELLES, TAYLOR -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Housing
AN ACT to amend the real property law, in relation to enacting the
"tenants organizing act"
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "tenants organizing act".
§ 2. Section 230 of the real property law, as added by chapter 809 of
the laws of 1975 and subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 90 of the laws
of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
§ 230. Right of tenants to form, join or participate in tenants'
groups. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "TENANTS' ORGAN-
IZATION" MEANS A BONA FIDE ORGANIZATION OF TENANTS WHO REPRESENT THE
OCCUPIED RENTAL UNITS IN A RENTAL HOUSING PROPERTY WITH FIVE UNITS OR
MORE, OR A BONA FIDE ORGANIZATION WORKING TO ACHIEVE SUCH STATUS.
TENANTS' ORGANIZATIONS MAY ENGAGE IN THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO: (A) INITIATING CONTACT WITH TENANTS, INCLUDING BY
CONDUCTING DOOR-TO-DOOR SURVEYS, TO ASCERTAIN INTEREST IN OR SEEK
SUPPORT FOR FORMING A TENANT ORGANIZATION; (B) JOINING OR SUPPORTING
ANOTHER TENANT ORGANIZATION; (C) DISTRIBUTING LITERATURE; (D) REQUESTING
OR PROVIDING INFORMATION; (E) OFFERING ASSISTANCE; (F) CONVENING MEET-
INGS, WHICH MAY OCCUR WITHOUT A LANDLORD OR LANDLORD REPRESENTATIVE
PRESENT; OR (G) OTHERWISE ACTING ON BEHALF OF ONE OR MORE TENANTS IN THE
BUILDING REGARDING ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST OR CONCERN.
2. No landlord shall interfere with the right of a tenant to form,
join or participate in the lawful activities of any group, committee or
other organization formed to protect the rights of tenants; nor shall
any landlord harass, punish, penalize, diminish, or withhold any right,
benefit or privilege of a tenant under [his] THEIR tenancy for exercis-
ing such right.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00053-01-5
A. 1535 2
[2.] 3. Tenants' groups, committees or other tenants' organizations
shall have the right to meet without being required to pay a fee in any
location on the premises including a community or social room where use
is normally subject to a fee which is devoted to the common use of all
tenants in a peaceful manner, at reasonable hours and without obstruct-
ing access to the premises or facilities. No landlord shall deny such
right.
4. TENANTS' GROUPS, COMMITTEES OR OTHER TENANTS' ORGANIZATIONS SHALL
HAVE THE RIGHT TO INVITE OUTSIDE GUESTS OR VISITORS, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND HOUSING LAWYERS, TO
THEIR REGULAR MEETINGS WITHOUT BEING REQUIRED TO PAY A FEE IN ANY
LOCATION ON THE PREMISES INCLUDING A COMMUNITY OR SOCIAL ROOM WHERE USE
IS NORMALLY SUBJECT TO A FEE WHICH IS DEVOTED TO THE COMMON USE OF ALL
TENANTS IN A PEACEFUL MANNER, AT REASONABLE HOURS AND WITHOUT OBSTRUCT-
ING ACCESS TO THE PREMISES OR FACILITIES. NO LANDLORD SHALL DENY SUCH
RIGHT.
5. NO LANDLORD OR AN AGENT OF A LANDLORD SHALL PROHIBIT OR INTERFERE
WITH A TENANT OF A RENTAL UNIT IN A BUILDING, OR A GUEST INVITED BY A
TENANT, FROM ENGAGING IN LAWFUL ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES.
6. TENANTS IN A BUILDING MAY ESTABLISH A BONA FIDE TENANTS' ORGANIZA-
TION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION BY PROVIDING THEIR LANDLORD WITH A PETI-
TION SIGNED BY TENANTS REPRESENTING OCCUPIED UNITS WITHIN A BUILDING OR
PROPERTY CERTIFYING THAT SUCH TENANTS DESIRE TO FORM A TENANTS' ORGAN-
IZATION. A COPY OF SUCH PETITION MAY ALSO BE FILED WITH THE CLERK OF THE
GOVERNING MUNICIPALITY.
7. LANDLORDS AND TENANTS' ORGANIZATIONS SHALL CONFER WITH EACH OTHER
IN GOOD FAITH REGARDING HOUSING CONDITIONS, COMMUNITY LIFE, LANDLORD-
TENANT RELATIONS, AND OTHER ISSUES OF COMMON INTEREST OR CONCERN. EXAM-
PLES OF CONFERRING IN GOOD FAITH MAY INCLUDE MAINTAINING A DESIGNATED
POINT OF CONTACT, ENGAGING IN REGULAR COMMUNICATIONS, RESPONDING TO
REASONABLE REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION, ALLOWING PARTICIPATION BY NON-RESI-
DENT ADVOCATES, AND NEGOTIATING AND PUTTING AGREEMENTS INTO WRITING. IN
ADDITION, A LANDLORD SHALL, ON WRITTEN REQUEST OF A TENANTS' ORGANIZA-
TION, ATTEND EITHER THEMSELVES OR THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVE AT LEAST
ONE TENANTS' ORGANIZATION MEETING EVERY SIX MONTHS, ALTHOUGH MORE
FREQUENT ATTENDANCE AT THE REQUEST OF THE TENANTS' ORGANIZATION SHALL BE
PERMITTED. SUCH MEETINGS SHALL OCCUR AT A MUTUALLY CONVENIENT TIME AND
PLACE. TO REQUEST THAT A LANDLORD OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVE ATTEND A MEET-
ING, THE TENANTS' ORGANIZATION SHALL SEND THE LANDLORD A WRITTEN REQUEST
AT LEAST FOURTEEN DAYS IN ADVANCE. ALTERNATIVELY, IF A TENANTS' ORGAN-
IZATION MEETS AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED TIME AND PLACE, THEN SUCH
TENANTS' ORGANIZATION MAY SEND THE LANDLORD A SINGLE STANDING REQUEST TO
ATTEND MEETINGS FOR THE DURATION OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.