HPD Launches Pilot Program to Prevent Tenant Harassment

By Penny Laughlin

Per Local Law 1 of 2018, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will develop a list of buildings identified as at-risk for tenant harassment. The properties will become part of a new pilot program that requires owners to submit a Certificate of No Harassment (CONH) to obtain plan approval or a work permit for certain work categories.

CONH requirements currently apply to single-room occupancies (SROs) and to buildings in select special-purpose zoning districts. The time-limited pilot program is expanding to a geographically targeted area to allow evaluation of the city’s accuracy and effectiveness in targeting and addressing tenant harassment in particular buildings. The HPD Pilot Program List will be available on the HPD website on October 8, 2018.

HPD Pilot Program

Effective October 1, 2018, owners of buildings on the HPD Pilot Program List will be required to submit one of the following HPD documents when seeking a plan approval or work permit for a new building, demolition, or Alteration Types 1, 2, and 3:

  • CONH and a copy of the affidavit submitted to HPD
  • Waiver of CONH
  • Certification of restrictive declaration
  • Letter stating the work is not in a covered category

For applications submitted before October 1, 2018, if the plans have not been approved or the permit issued by that date, applicants will need to submit the HPD document only once before:

  • Plan approval OR
  • Approval of Post Approval Amendments (PAAs) OR
  • Issuance of work permit OR
  • Issuance of certificate of occupancy/letter of completion

Starting October 1, 2018, permit holders in the pilot program will need to visit a DOB borough office and submit required HPD documents for the initial renewal of a permit issued before October 1, 2018. Subsequent permits can be renewed online.

If you have questions or need assistance with CONH requirements, contact Metropolis Group at 212.233.6344.