Hudson Valle y Newburgh studies rent control

By Peter Katz / pkatz@westfairinc.com

The city of Newburgh is trying to determine whether it can opt into the New York State Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA) and institute a rent control program. The city's Planning and Development Department asked owners of buildings built prior to 1974 with six or more residential units to respond to a survey that would reveal how many empty units exist. If the city finds that the citywide vacancy rate is less than 5%, a Declaration of Emergency can be issued and the City Council can take necessary steps to apply the ETPA, which would lead to the formation of a Rent Guideline Board for the city and the regulation of rents.

The state's Division of Housing and Community Renewal said that in addition to regulating rent increases, ETPA entitles rent stabilized tenants to receive required services, to have their leases renewed, and to be protected from eviction except on grounds allowed by law.

According to Newburgh, approximately 40 municipalities in New York state have completed rental vacancy studies, found a vacancy rate below 5% and enabled ETPA through their local legislative bodies. In Ulster, the city of Kingston completed a rental vacancy study and enabled ETPA last year.

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, an estimated 1,300 housing units in Kingston are covered under its rent control, which applies to buildings with six or more units that were constructed prior to 1974. ETPA for Kingston was signed