Albany, NY – State Senator Julia Salazar and Assemblymember Gabriella Romero recently introduced the Tenant Power Act (S.9912/A.10991), which creates legal protections for tenant unions and establishes the Statewide Tenant Association. 

Senate Bill 9912: Tenant Power Act:  

1. Legally recognize tenant unions. 

2. Create tenant power by making it easier to build tenant unions and require landlords to negotiate with them. 

3. Establish the Statewide Tenant Association with an allocation of $50 million a year to help organize, support, and provide resources to tenant unions. 

4. Give tenants access to crucial information that is often hidden about building owners, including list of properties owned, operating income and expenses, assessed and outstanding taxes, and more. 

State Senator Julia Salazar released the following statement:  

“Big landlords and real estate companies are often renting apartments at predatory prices while failing to provide the most basic maintenance. In the midst of an affordability and housing crisis, too many New Yorkers are spending most of their paychecks on rent or living in subpar conditions. It’s clear that unions are needed not just in the workplace, but in our homes as well. The Tenant Power Act will ensure tenant unions in New York are empowered, legally protected, and able to fight back against unjust landlords.”  

Assemblymember Gabriella Romero (D, WFP - Albany, Guilderland, New Scotland) said: 

“For far too long, landlords have worked to silence tenants and block them from organizing for better conditions. The Tenant Power Act changes that by giving tenants the explicit right to unionize and build collective power across New York State. In communities like ours, where the majority of residents are renters, this bill ensures people can come together, protect their rights, and stand up to bad landlords without fear. By establishing a statewide tenant association with real resources and elected leadership, we’re creating a more equitable housing system where tenants have a real seat at the table and the power to fight for the safe, stable homes they deserve.”  

Dorothy Sanders, member of New York Communities for Change, lives in the Bronx and said, “I am a mom of twin daughters. I have been living at my apartment building since 2018. Our living conditions have been horrible for so long. I leave voicemails and the landlord never gets back to us and I never hear back. My girls and I deserve more from this management company. I need to be able to sit face to face with the landlord to address every issue I have in my apartment, and get real solutions. I have no idea to who and where my rent money is going. We deserve to know who our landlord is and where our rent is going.” 

Andrew Friedman, Senior Director of Strategy at the Action Lab, the main organization behind the Tenant Power Act, stated: “The housing market has failed working families in New York in devastating ways and landlords and investors have more power than ever. The Tenant Power Act levels the playing field. It will make landlords come to the table and negotiate with tenants. Landlords will no longer be able to hide behind corporations and will be required to provide tenants basic information such as names of principal owners and other properties owned. Armed with new rights and new information, tenants will be able to organize and bargain for livable conditions and fair rents. The Act will also establish a Statewide Tenant Association to build the power of New York tenants to counter the dominance of the landlord and finance lobby in Albany.” 

“We are ending the era where a New Yorker’s dignity is determined by the signature on their lease. The Tenant Power Act isn’t just a bill; it is a declaration of independence from the shadow of the landlord lobby. Today, we stop begging for a seat at the table and start building a city where the people who keep New York running are finally the ones who own its future,” said Rob Solano, Co-founder and Executive Director of Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH). 

"Tenants deserve more than just a livable and affordable apartment, they deserve a seat at the table. Tenant unions are the foundation of the Tenant Movement and with added protections and resources will be better able to fight for their rights," said Jonathan Bix, Executive Director at For the Many 

“The Tenant Power Act is a strong step towards giving tenants in New York the opportunity to create collective power to fight for the security they need to live in healthy homes and thrive in their neighborhoods,” said Jennifer Hernandez, Director of Campaigns at Make the Road New York. “Too frequently, tenants endure harassment, unacceptable living conditions, and more, out of fear of being thrown out of their homes if they speak up. This is especially true as New York continues to face an out-of-control affordability and housing crisis. With this Act, tenant unions will have the legal protections, funds, and network to organize and fight back against this unfair dynamic.” 

Organizations currently supporting the Tenant Power Act include the Action Lab, Citizen Action, CUFFH, For the Many, Met Council, Make the Road, NYCC, Popular Democracy, and more. 

Data: 

• As of 2021, nearly half of all households in New York State are renters. 69% of NYC households are renters. 

• As of 2022, nearly 40% of households in New York State are rent burdened (paying 30% or more of their income for housing). Approximately 20% of households in New York State are severely cost-burden, paying more than 50% of their income for housing. 

• Severe rent burdens are not limited to New York City alone. Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, and Nassau County all have higher rates of “severely rent burdened” tenants than the five boroughs. 

• Median gross rents in New York State rose by 19% from 2010 to 2020, while median household incomes only grew by 10%.