New Law: harassment of a rent regulated tenant

On December 3, 2019, the NY State crime of harassing a rent regulated tenant was expanded by way of the tenant protection act of 2019.

New Penal Law section 241.02 and amended Penal Law 241.05 have created the crimes of harassment of a rent regulated tenant in the first and second degree with the second degree being chargeable with a misdemeanor and the first degree with a felony.

These laws are effective on May 31, 2020.

Be very careful when evicting a regulated tenant - they have rights!

New Law: Discrimination Commissions

On November 25, 2019, General Municipal Law 239-o was amended to have local Commissions on Human Rights take into account all of the NYS protected classes when seeking to foster mutual respect and understanding in the community.

The protected classes are:

1. ages
2. races
3. sexual orientation
4. gender identity or expression
5. military status
6. sex
7. disability
8. predisposing genetic characteristics
9. familial status
10. marital status
11. domestic violence victim status 
12. creed
13. color
14. national origin

LIBOR / NYSAR - We just don't get it

On November 21 - we posted the blog Dear LIBOR - Lieb School has a question about your Fair Housing Courses where we advised that the statute requires that real estate licensees only be taught with "attorneys presenting legal subjects".

Now, Newsday is reporting a quote from NYSAR's CEO - "We are requiring all of our instructors that want to teach fair housing to go through a training course that will be run by an independent fair housing group before they can teach for us again,” MacKenzie said.

What?

You can't have them go through a training to become attorneys - they have to pass the Bar Exam.

Can't you all just follow the law?

Liebschool.com - where the law is followed