S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4347
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 4, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- 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
offset rental payments by the cost of certain emergency repairs
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
235-k to read as follows:
§ 235-K. TENANTS' RIGHT TO OFFSET RENTAL PAYMENTS BY THE COST OF EMER-
GENCY REPAIRS. 1. EVERY TENANT MAY OFFSET AGAINST RENTAL PAYMENTS THE
COST OF MAKING EMERGENCY REPAIRS WHEN A LANDLORD IS EITHER UNWILLING OR
UNABLE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. SUCH EMERGENCY
REPAIRS SHALL INCLUDE:
(A) BROKEN WINDOWS WHICH ALLOW THE MIGRATION OF OUTSIDE AIR INTO THE
LIVING AREA OF A DWELLING DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.
(B) BROKEN OR OTHERWISE INOPERABLE EXTERIOR SECURITY LOCKS.
(C) BROKEN OR OTHERWISE INOPERABLE WATER CLOSETS.
(D) REMOVAL OF OBSTRUCTIONS FROM SEWAGE LINES.
(E) BROKEN OR OTHERWISE INOPERABLE PLUMBING LINES WHICH CAUSE INTER-
RUPTION OF DELIVERY OF BOTH COLD AND HOT WATER SUPPLIES.
(F) LEAKS OR OBSTRUCTIONS IN SUPPLY AND DELIVERY GAS LINES.
2. THE TENANT SHALL MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO CONTACT THE LANDLORD
TO NOTIFY HIM OR HER OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION; AND IN THE EVENT THE
LANDLORD DOES NOT RESPOND WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS THE TENANT SHALL HAVE
THE RIGHT TO MAKE ALL NECESSARY EMERGENCY REPAIRS, AND MAY OFFSET THE
REASONABLE COST THEREOF FROM FUTURE RENT. THE TENANT SHALL SECURE AND
PROVIDE TO THE LANDLORD AN ITEMIZED COST ACCOUNTING OF ALL EMERGENCY
REPAIRS MADE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05626-01-5