Fact
Sheet #17 - Harassment
Harassment
by an owner is a course of action intended to force a tenant out of his/her
apartment or to cause a tenant to give up rights granted the tenant by
the Rent Stabilization Law or Rent Control Law.
No
owner or anyone acting for the owner may interfere with a tenant's privacy,
comfort, or quiet enjoyment of the tenant's apartment. Interference includes
reducing services or engaging in baseless court proceedings.
Harassment
is a serious violation of a tenant's rights. The New York State Division
of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) established the Enforcement Unit
specifically to handle harassment cases. The Unit is staffed with attorneys
who specialize in this area of the rent laws. They respond to all complaints
of harassment made within New York State related to rent regulated housing.
Owners
found guilty of tenant harassment based on acts or offenses committed before
July 20, 1997 are subject to fines of up to $1,000 for each violation against
a rent controlled tenant and up to $2,500 for each violation against a
rent stabilized tenant.
The
Rent Regulation Reform Act of 1997 increased the fines for tenant
harassment, and made them uniform for rent controlled and rent stabilized
apartments. Owners found guilty of tenant harassment based on acts or
offenses committed on or after July 20, 1997 are subject to fines of
up to $5,000 for each violation against any rent regulated tenant.
In
addition, DHCR will permit no rent increases once there has been a finding
of harassment until there is a finding that the harassment has ended.
If
you think you are a victim of harassment, you may obtain a "Tenant Statement
of Complaint(s)- Harassment" (DHCR
Form RA-60H), from your Borough
or County Rent Office, or write to:
DHCR
Enforcement Bureau
Gertz Plaza
92-31 Union Hall Street
Jamaica, NY 11433
DHCR
Version 4/4/00
RGB page updated 7/30/08
