NYC allegedly delaying the implementation of a law for vacant apartment inspections, according to council members' claims

In a city grappling with an affordable housing crisis, a delay in the implementation of a law requiring inspections of vacant apartments has sparked controversy. The City Council passed the law in December 2023, with the intention for the city's housing agency to begin enforcement at the start of this year. However, officials from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the city's Office of Technology and Innovation have yet to implement the measure.

The law allows residents to make 311 complaints that trigger inspections of empty units, including those being deliberately held off the market. The purpose of the law is to address a contentious topic: Few housing issues spark as much outrage as the notion of apartments sitting empty during a housing crisis.

Councilmembers Jennifer Gutiérrez, Pierina Sanchez, Carlina Rivera, and Gale Brewer have voiced their concerns over the delay, stating that it undermines the purpose of the law. Gutiérrez further emphasised that vacant apartments can cause problems for tenants in neighboring units, such as rats, birds, human intruders, flooding, and mold blooms.

The law states that the housing agency should contact the property owner after receiving a complaint and schedule an inspection within three weeks. However, so far, just one landlord has completed an application for a program introduced in April 2023, which gives landlords of vacant rent-stabilized apartments up to $50,000 to cover the cost of renovations if they agree to rent the unit to a person using a housing voucher. The application was not approved due to the landlord failing to complete additional steps, according to HPD data.

City officials, including HPD, have argued that the problem is far overstated, citing their own survey data showing that fewer than 2,500 rent-stabilized units priced below $1,000 a month were being held off the market last year. On the other hand, a 2023 report by the city's Independent Budget Office identified more than 13,000 rent-stabilized apartments that sat empty for at least two years.

The authorities responsible for implementing the law are the local city housing authority and municipal regulatory offices such as the city order service (Stadtordnungsdienst) or city housing department. For example, in Leipzig, the city order service conducts inspections and enforcement regarding housing and related regulations.

In response to the controversy, the Office of Technology and Innovation plans to introduce a new 311 feature, including the vacant apartment complaint option. This move is expected to streamline the complaint process and potentially expedite the implementation of the law.

The delay in implementing the law has left many residents in New York City frustrated and concerned about the state of their housing situation. As the city continues to grapple with its affordable housing crisis, the implementation of this law remains a critical step towards addressing the issue.