Starting in 2021, every New York state housing discrimination plaintiff should bring an administrative complaint at the Division of Human Rights before even considering filing a lawsuit in state Supreme Court or federal District Court. 

Everyone is in the Hamptons this summer. Tenants fled here in March. They are staying even after they were supposed to go back to the city at the end of their lease terms. Unfortunately, tenants have unilaterally elected to illegally holdover in their former rentals because it's not just more beautiful here, it's safer. This has caused major problems for buyers, sellers, and legitimate tenants alike.

Andrew Lieb shares some highlights of the extraordinary changes in the law that control the sales, rentals and litigation landscape of real estate. This is a must read for real estate professionals, homeowners, landlords and tenants.

Read the full article published in Behind The Hedges here. 

New York State homeowners and real estate professionals should be aware that starting April 1, 2019, smoke detectors must either be hardwired or be sealed and have a 10-year irreplaceable battery life.

New York General Business Law Section 399-ccc prohibits the sale, distribution or importation of any “solely battery operated smoke detecting alarm device powered by a replaceable, removable battery not capable of powering such device for a minimum of ten years.” In addition to the requirement that the solely battery operated smoke detector have a minimum battery life of ten (10) years, its product packaging must also state the manufacturer’s name or registered trademark and model number of the device.

The above requirements do not apply to battery operated smoke detectors already “ordered by, or are in the inventory of, owners, managing agents, contractors, wholesalers or retailers” on or before April 1, 2019. However, if these non-compliant smoke detectors are replaced after April 1, 2019, such replacement must comply with Section 399-ccc’s requirements.

NYS Department of State adopted a rule amending 19 NYCRR 1219 and adding 19 NYCRR 1229 to require newly constructed buildings and buildings undergoing a substantial renovation to include diaper changing stations if buildings have publicly accessible toilets.

Effective January 1, 2019, such buildings must meet requirements which include having at least one diaper changing station accessible to any gender available on each floor level with a public restroom. The new rules also address requirements as to accessibility, construction, installation, maintenance and signage of the diaper changing tables.

Failure to comply may result in criminal sanctions pursuant to Executive Law §382(2).

For more details, read the full text of the 19 NYCRR 1219 and 19 NYCRR 1229.