OP-ED
The need for real rent regulation in New York
BY JAY MARTIN
In politics, it’s a lot easier
to blame others than shoulder
any responsibility on your
own. Case in point – the
recent rent regulation debate
in Albany.
With the laws governing
affordable rent stabilized
units set to expire on June
15th, state lawmakers have an
opportunity to seriously tackle
the housing affordability
crisis that has befallen our
city. Unfortunately – but
not surprisingly – we are
not seeing the leadership
required for such an
intricate issue.
That’s why our
organization, the Community
Housing Improvement
Program (CHIP), which
represents 4,000 property
owners across all five
boroughs who own or manage
one-third of the City’s rent
stabilized housing stock, is
putting forth proposals that
focus on giving working
class and poor New Yorkers
the housing security they
deserve.
Our members are mostly
small business owners who
understand the difficult
balance of maintaining safe
and high-quality affordable
apartments, with still earning
a living in such an expensive
city. Many members have
worked here for generations
and have
seen the City
climb out of
the depths
of urban
decay into a
community
that attracts
new residents
and visitors
every year.
Part of
We see this lack of leadership with the
complete mismanagement of NYCHA. The
government is the largest landlord in the
city, but cannot get its own properties to
meet even the lowest standards of livability.
Community Housing Improvement Program
this success
stems from
state policies such as the
Major Capital Improvement
and Individual Apartment
Improvement programs.
These key mechanisms
incentivize property owners
to maintain their buildings
by permitting them to recoup
the costs of upgrades through
small rent increases, but
only upon the submission
of evidence to regulators
that the projects met
stringent guidelines.
The programs have
delivered – since the 1970s,
there has been a 90% drop
in blocks that are blighted
with boarded or broken
Jay Martin,
windows. But other policies,
including preferential rents
and vacancy allowances,
also contribute to the overall
upward trend in the quality
of rental housing.
And yet, Albany politicians
are more interested in
currying favor with a
small subset of activists by
upbraiding property owners
than helping New Yorkers
afford their homes.
We see this lack of
leadership with the complete
mismanagement of NYCHA.
The government is the largest
landlord in the city, but
cannot get its own properties
to meet even the
lowest standards of
livability.
That’s why
we have recently
announced an
affordability plan
that is intended
to refocus the
housing debate.
Spe ci f ic a l ly,
New York should
pass the Home
Stability Support
Program. The legislation
would expand supplemental
housing aid for individuals
and families on public
assistance.
The city and state must
also support appropriate
funding levels for the NYC
Rent Freeze Program, which
help seniors and disabled
individuals afford their rent
stabilized units. Veterans
should be included in an
expanded program.
Additionally, the lowestrent
apartments should be
reserved for low-income
New Yorkers by making
rent stabilized units meanstested.
CHIP members have been
part of this city for decades,
and we will always remain
committed to our home
and yours.
With only a few weeks left
of debate before a major vote
on housing reform, we’ll do
our best to make sure Albany
lawmakers actually assist
the most vulnerable New
Yorkers, not just indulge the
most vocal activists.
Jay Martin is the executive
director of the Community
Housing Improvement
Program (CHIP), which
represents 4,000 property
owners that manage 1/3
(400,000) of all rent stabilized
units throughout the city.
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