Helping Tenants Navigate New York's Loft Law
At the law firm of Jeffrey S. Ween & Associates in New York, we have more than 30 years of real estate law experience. Our attorneys work closely with tenants to make sure their rights under the Loft Law are fully protected in their dealings with landlords.
To schedule a consultation with a lawyer, call 646-448-9300 or 888-832-1780 to speak with an attorney. Or, contact our firm via e-mail.
New York City's Loft Law
According to the New York City Loft Board, if a building meets the following criteria it will be covered by the Loft Law:
- The building possesses no residential certificate of occupancy pursuant to §301 of the Multiple Dwelling Law
- The building was used in the past for manufacturing, commercial or warehousing purposes
- There were three or more residential tenants living in separate apartments in the building in the 20-month period between April 1, 1980 and December 1, 1981.
According to the board, there were 306 such buildings under the jurisdiction of the Loft Board as of February, 2010.
Issues Related to the Loft Law
Among other things, the Loft Law requires these buildings to become a part of the rent stabilization law. Also, landlords are required to undergo legalization projects to bring the residences up to code. This often leads to disputes about landlord access to properties to perform work, as well as disputes about overcharging and what the proper rent is.
