We are back with more updates!

Vaccine Mandate
Yesterday New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced another vaccine mandate. Starting December 27, 2021 all private employers in the city must be vaccinated. Along with this, children ages 5-11 must at least have their first dose in order to enter all covered premises. Those 12 and older must be fully vaccinated. We expect to have more information on this soon.

The New ADU Bill
The State Legislature has made significant amendments to the bill that would legalize "Accessory Dwelling Units'' in owner-occupied properties across New York State. Since the original bill included language from the “Good Cause” Eviction bill, this one now has more tenant protections, including similar rent control provisions capping rent increases at 3%. The bill also empowers the Division of Housing and Community Renewal to craft a “right of first refusal” rule that allows the tenants of currently illegal units (primarily basement apartments) the opportunity to move back into the apartment once it is legalized. Additionally, the bill would create a fund to aid homeowners in the creation of ADU's, in exchange for the owner entering into an agreement to keep rents on the units below market rate for 15 or 30 years, and require that a new ADU be rented for at least one year.

ERAP
January 15, 2022 is around the corner and in preparation for that, more funding is needed for ERAP. The state government has yet to offer a plan to help protect more than 100,000 renters who still have arrears but have not applied and more than 80,000 renters who have a pending application. State officials are hopeful that the U.S. Treasury will give more funding.

Renters and landlords face challenges as federal rent assistance money begins to dry up