HOUSING

If you are in need of immediate assistance regarding housing, contact the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York.
INFORMATION FOR TENANTS & LANDLORDS
Requesting Mortgage Assistance During the COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 27, 2020, the president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) into law. The law includes a foreclosure moratorium and mortgage payment relief for certain loans on single-family properties.
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COVID-19 – Impact on Housing in New York State
The law has been changed substantially to help tenants in New York State during the COVID-19 crisis, regardless of the type of housing they live in.  This is an overview of the main protections for tenants.
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Landlord-Tenant Concerns During the COVID -19 Health Crisis
UPDATE May 11: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the state's moratorium on COVID-related residential or commercial evictions will be extended for an additional 60 days until August 20th. The state is also banning late payments or fees for missed rent payments during the eviction moratorium, and allowing renters facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 to use their security deposit as payment and repay their security deposit over time. Courts are only accepting new cases for “essential matters,” which currently do not include evictions. If you live in federally funded housing, or your landlord received federal funding, your landlord cannot file an eviction action against you until at least August 20, 2020.
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Eviction For Non-Payment of Rent
Learn about the process of eviction for non-payment of rent.
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Facing Foreclosure
Effective Dec. 20th, 2016.
If you can no longer afford your current mortgage payment, what should you expect? What should you do if you want to keep your home? How long do you have before you might have to move?
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Housing Stability & Tenant Protection Act Of 2019: Changes To New York State’s Landlord-Tenant Laws
On June 14, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Housing Stability & Tenant Protection Act. Many of the changes went into effect immediately. Below is a brief summary of the changes to the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law (RPAPL), Real Property Law (RPL), and General Obligations Law (GOL).
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Partners in Progress Workshop of 2020 on Changes to Landlord /Tenant Rights 2019
A recording of the presentation, handouts and related materials are now available.
Listen on CARES website
Public Assistance and Security Deposits
The regulations regarding security deposits if you are receiving public assistance.
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Security Deposits
Information about handling security deposits for renters.
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Source of Income Discrimination
On April 12, 2019, New York State amended the New York State Human Rights Law to protect all New Yorkers from discrimination based on lawful source of income. This law applies to nearly all types of housing in New York State.
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Using The Housing Authority Grievance Procedure
How tenants of public housing have complaints addressed.
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What to Do If You Can’t Afford Your Mortgage But You Want to Keep Your Home
How to deal with banks and agencies.
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When Housing Conditions Are Bad
The landlord’s and your responsibilities and actions to take.
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Emergency Housing Benefits For Persons With AIDS
The Department of Social Services now has a special program that pays cash benefits to individuals with AIDS or HIV-related illnesses who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness.
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Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivors with Criminal Records: What You Should Know When Applying for Federally Subsidized Housing
Basic information for survivors that have a criminal record and are applying for federally subsidized housing. Issues covered include matters related to permanent and temporary bars from certain housing programs; housing denials due to criminal records, criminal convictions and arrests; and improving your chances of being admitted. 
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This information came from the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York fights for fairness, dignity, and justice for those living in poverty and for a society which is inclusive and equitable for all. We transform lives, build community and empower people by using the law to address individual and systemic wrongs and inequities.
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Do you need legal assistance?
Please contact one of our offices in Albany, Amsterdam, Canton, Plattsburgh or Saratoga Springs.
faqs (landlords)
Financial Support for Landlords
The New York Forward Loan Fund is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. Access to loans for small landlords will be targeted to owners with residential buildings of 50 units or less, and will prioritize loans for landlords whose properties are in low and moderate income census tracts or who serve low to moderate income tenants.

I’m a landlord and my tenants are unable to pay rent due to the virus, so I am unable to make my mortgage payments. What should I do?
UPDATE May 11: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the state's moratorium on COVID-related residential or commercial evictions will be extended for an additional 60 days until August 20th. The state is also banning late payments or fees for missed rent payments during the eviction moratorium, and allowing renters facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 to use their security deposit as payment and repay their security deposit over time. Courts are only accepting new cases for “essential matters,” which currently do not include evictions. If you live in federally funded housing, or your landlord received federal funding, your landlord cannot file an eviction action against you until at least August 20, 2020. View webinar that addresses this topic: Managing Properties in the Age of Coronavirus

What do I do if my resident tests positive for COVID19?
NAA offers operational insight for how to handle a resident testing positive for COVID-19 . Guidance is presented by Ayiesha Beverly, NAA Senior Staff Attorney, National Lease Program. Released 3/24/2020

How should I handle maintenance right now?
NAA provides insight into how to handle maintenance during the spread of COVID-19. Guidance is presented by Paul Rhodes, NAA National Safety and Maintenance Instructor. Released 3/20/2020

Are there specific safety measures building owners and managers should follow?
  • • Make sure that common areas are frequently cleaned and disinfected to help slow person-to-person spread of COVID-19.
  • Pay particular attention to cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, stairway railings, elevator buttons, reception desks, push plates and laundry room equipment.
  • For more information about how to clean and disinfect surfaces, and other preventive measures, visit nyc.gov/coronavirus and look for "General Cleaning/Disinfection Guidance for Non-Health Care Settings."
  • Building staff and others entering and leaving should wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after cleaning. They should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Consider having alcohol-based hand sanitizers in common areas (for example, lobby, bathrooms, laundry rooms, gyms and playrooms) to encourage hand hygiene among building occupants.
  • Everyone in the building should practice social (physical) distancing, keeping 6 feet between themselves and others, whenever possible.
  • Limit the number of people getting into the elevator at the same time to avoid crowding.
  • People should consider only riding the elevator with their own party, taking the stairs, or waiting for the next elevator.
  • Consider posting in common areas the "Stop the Spread of Coronavirus" flyer, which is available in multiple languages at nyc.gov/coronavirus.
Should building staff wear masks?
In general, if building staff are not sick, they do not need to use a face mask. And, if building staff are sick, they should stay home.
  • If they need to be outside or interact with building occupants, they should practice healthy hand hygiene and stay at least 6 feet from others when possible — distance is our best defense. 
  • Do not hoard face masks. Our health care providers need face masks to stay healthy and to care for the most critically ill. Health care workers cannot keep distance from others, avoid sick people, or avoid contact with others’ bodily fluid, such as saliva. Health care workers are the ones who need masks.
What if there are no building staff reporting to work?
Consider identifying backup staff or asking for building occupant volunteers to help with package delivery, routine cleaning and disinfecting, and other tasks in the building as
appropriate, while encouraging social distancing.

Will government officials notify building owners or occupants if someone in the building is sick or tests
positive for COVID-19?
No. The Health Department will not notify building owners or occupants of reports of sickness or cases.

Should property managers or residents notify the City or others in a building if a person in the building is sick or has COVID-19?
No. Property managers and building occupants do not need to notify government officials or others in a building if someone in the building is sick. With widespread community transmission, many people will get sick and recover at home. All New Yorkers should follow health guidance and stay home. If symptoms do not go away or get worse after three to four days, consult with a doctor. If an ill building occupant needs emergency assistance, call 911.

Should building deliveries (for example, packages, food deliveries) be handled differently?
Building occupants should maintain social distancing when getting packages or mail, and when entering or exiting the building. In a large building where packages may be left in
the lobby or with front desk staff, building staff may consider assisting building occupants by dropping deliveries outside of their door. Some delivery services (for example, Uber Eats, FreshDirect, Amazon) also have a section for “special instructions” where individuals can enter more information and requests, for example, that packages
be delivered to the door, or to text/call and leave packages at the door in an effort to minimize person-to-person contact and touching of surfaces.

Should temperature or humidity in buildings be adjusted to prevent the transmission of COVID-19?
The Health Department does not recommend that buildings increase humidity levels to control COVID-19 transmission. Adjusting the temperature or humidity of a building is not likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

Are there any special ventilation precautions for COVID-19?
No special ventilation precautions are recommended for residential or commercial buildings. Building staff should make sure building ventilation systems are working
properly and maintained per standard protocols for optimal indoor air quality.

What should occupants do if there is a fire alarm in the building?
Building occupants should follow the building’s standard protocols if there is a fire alarm, and fire safety should not be compromised. Fire and building codes should continue to be followed, and fire doors should not be propped open. Encourage building occupants to practice social distancing and maintain at least 6 feet distance from each
other as they exit the building during such an incident.

What if repairs are needed in a specific unit (for example, plumbing, maintenance)?
Confirm with individual prior to appointment that they are not sick. If sick, reschedule if possible. Building occupant should maintain social distancing while the work is being
done, and clean and disinfect work areas afterwards.

If the building has common areas, should these areas be closed?
Building owners and property managers should consider closing or limiting access to common areas, such as gyms, game rooms, playrooms and lounges. If these remain
open, they should be cleaned and disinfected frequently, and access should be limited so that occupants can maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between each other.
There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (such as with chlorine
and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.

What temperature should the water used to clean hands be set at in bathrooms in buildings?
Handwashing is one of the most important steps to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Hands can be washed with warm or cold water. Make sure the water is
running and use soap.
  • Building staff should make sure that all handwashing sinks in the common areas have clean running water, soap and paper towels at all times.
  • Put up posters about handwashing in bathrooms and other common areas as appropriate. 

Should building owners proceed with eviction processes during this time?
No. New York State issued a moratorium on evictions until further notice. Read the executive order.

How else can residential building owners and property managers help residents stay healthy and less lonely during this time?
If possible and if residents want to be contacted, check in with residents by phone or text, not in person. Consider using bulletin boards or digital communication platforms to
share information with occupants.
  • Separate facts from fear and guard against stigma. The outbreak is absolutely no excuse to spread racism and discrimination. If someone in the building is being harassed due to their race, nation of origin or other identities, they can report discrimination or harassment to the NYS Commission on Human Rights.
resources for the homeless
LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF NORTHEASTERN NEW YORK
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