NY A03241

Establishes a special proceeding allowing one-third or more of tenants in multi-unit dwellings (or any tenant in single-unit dwellings) to petition for court-ordered rent deposits to remedy dangerous living conditions such as lack of heat, water, electricity, or rodent infestations existing for five days or longer.

Applies to dwellings outside New York City and excludes Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, and Westchester counties; allows municipal housing code commissioners to also initiate proceedings, with tenants able to substitute themselves as parties.

Upon finding conditions exist, courts shall order rents deposited with a court-appointed administrator who uses funds to remediate hazardous conditions; tenants are protected from eviction for non-payment when rents are properly deposited.

Grants administrators broad powers to order repairs, collect rents, institute legal proceedings, and lease commercial portions of mixed-use properties; requires filing a 30-day remediation plan with specific completion dates and priorities for disbursing funds.

Voids any lease provisions waiving tenant protections under this article and prohibits warranty of habitability as a defense in rent collection proceedings during the period a remediation order is in effect.