When a
property is the site of "too many" 911 calls, the city may fine the
property owner or even seek to close the property.
To preempt
city action, some landlords often evict or threaten to evict the tenants who
called 911, refuse to renew their leases, or tell them to stop calling for
help.
The State
Legislature however recently passed a bill—unanimously in the Assembly and 58
to 1 in the Senate—to protect tenants from eviction based on their calls for
help.
Cities often
enact local laws called nuisance ordinances that label certain properties as
“nuisances” based on the amount of 911 calls or emergency responses at that
property, regardless of the reason for the call, the tenant’s role in the
dispute, or whether the person was requesting medical assistance.
Nuisance
ordinances harm landlords as well by forcing them into an impossible choice.
They can either let tenants who have called for help stay in their homes and
risk getting fined or having their property taken away. Or they can kick their tenants
out.
If Governor
Cuomo signs the legislation into law, New York will be the tenth state (plus
the District of Columbia) to pass this type of bill.
