Dog License (Health Code § 161.04): According to the City website, “New York State law requires that all owned dogs be licensed and the New York City Health Code §161.04 require every dog owner to have a dog license tag attached to their dog’s collar while in public. As violations of these laws can be severe, it is important to check your local laws before considering owning a pit bull in New York. In addition, many animals cannot be kept legally as pets in the City of New York. Landlords have the right to set restrictions in their rental properties. Collection. If the landlord does not fix peeling paint or if work is being done in an unsafe manner (for example, creating dust that is not being contained), tenants should call 311. The New York City Fire Department recently adopted rules implementing Local Law 103 of 2019. New York dog bite laws cover several key areas that could affect a personal injury case. You should send the letter to the owner and management company by certified mail and keep a copy for your records. If you have a lease, the legal rent is what it states in the lease and can be raised only as permitted by the lease or at the expiration of the lease. The new rent laws are permanent unless the legislature amends, repeals, or terminates them. MORE: Woman Suffering From Seizures Has Service Dog Evicted From New Jersey Hospital. This article offers advice to landlords about creating rules and regulations for dogs as pets. Building owners are required to provide tenants with heat during these months under the following conditions: These is peeling paint in my apartment and I have a child under 6. The best way to approach making additions or changes to existing dog rules is to ask yourself if such a change violates the lease agreement that you and the tenant signed. State Mortgage & Expense Forbearance Resource Page – https://www.dfs.ny.gov/ What are the responsibilities of my landlord? dog certifications: certificates, licenses, tags, or harnesses that identify service dogs in exchange for a fee. Unless the pet can be considered a "service animal" used by blind, deaf or disabled people, whether pets are permitted is at the discretion of the building owner and is usually stipulated in the lease. To obtain this license, owners must provide proof of current rabies vaccination as well as proof of the dog being spayed or neutered (only if applicable). Visit Fair Housing NYC for more information. Making changes or additions to dog regulations can be tricky, because changing just about anything in the rental property rules is likely to trigger complaints. Setting an allowed size of dog or adjusting that size after a dog is already living there. A basement is a story of a building partly below curb level but with at least one-half of its height above the curb level. Memoranda of Understanding. For example, if you’re worst dog-related fears are multiple large, misbehaved creatures that tear up the property, bark all night long and leave “presents” everywhere, start with that. In most states, including New York, the law affords special protections to victims of domestic violence. If you allow dogs in your rental property, and the tenants don’t have one when they move in but later get one, it can lead to complications. Generally, leash laws require that dogs be maintained on leash when off the owner’s property. This applies to both tenants and co-op residents, and to condo residents outside Manhattan or the Bronx. A subtenant, roommate or relative who has lived in the apartment for at least thirty days (even if the person is not on the lease and has not made any direct payments to the landlord). If tenants or occupants want window guards for any reason, even if there are no resident children 10 years of age or younger, the tenant can request the window guards in writing and the landlord must install them. I think it is too high. Keep a record of all of your attempts to get the landlord to make repairs, as this will be useful in court. (NYC Administrative Code §27-2013). When the outside temperature is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit between the hours of 6am and 10pm, building owners must heat apartments to at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Among other responsibilities, owners must provide and maintain security measures, heat, hot and cold water, and good lighting. Furthermore, tenants may not be denied housing because children may or will be residing with them. If you are considering allowing dogs in your rental property, make sure you are very thorough with creating and enforcing your dog rules and regulations. Adding a no pets clause to the lease agreement. Download Apps. Am I supposed to get my security deposit back? For people with the disabilities, the laws that prohibit unlawful discrimination provide for rights to have a medically helpful companion animal. These laws are enforced by the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). Before a tenant comes to you with an armful of cute puppies, have a plan in place for how you and the tenant will deal with the situation. Regardless of one's opinion of whether or not exotic pets should be owned, that has little to do with the theme of this article. This article is meant as just a general overview of disability housing laws, and not a complete accounting for every possible type or housing or housing issue. This booklet is designed to help owners and tenants gain an understanding of the rules and regulations affecting housing, and to provide information about how to receive assistance. New York Laws on Domestic Violence, Sexual Misconduct, and Sexual Assault. In New York City, tenants have many rights relating to the safety and quality of their housing. Here’s a rundown of what changed for NYC renters in the law Albany passed in June 2019: Security deposits are now limited to one month’s rent, and landlords must return them within 14 days of the tenant leaving the unit — along with an itemized statement covering any deductions made. If your apartment is not regulated, DHCR does not regulate your rent. New York State requires all dogs over four months of age to be licensed. Keeping NYC healthy, safe and clean since 1881 Search all NYC.gov websites 311. Learn about Tenant Resources as the coronavirus crisis continues to evolve. Documents that will be useful include, but are not limited to: My Landlord raised my rent. These as well as unreasonable refusal to allow access to the apartment by the owner or his or her agent or employee for the purpose of making repairs or improvements required by the Housing Maintenance Code and Multiple Dwelling Law may constitute grounds for eviction proceedings. Here are just a few examples of changes that wouldn’t affect the lease agreement: Here are a few examples of changes to the property dog rules that would most likely be against the existing lease agreement: In other words, don’t change the rules and regulations for dogs as outlined in the lease agreement if you are mid-lease with the tenant. Charging a pet deposit or fee when there was none in the initial lease agreement. If the new rule is more of a housekeeping thing and won’t affect the tenant’s overall use or enjoyment of the property, you can implement it after written notification. So, you might start your list with the following rules and regulations for dogs at your rental property: Of course, your own personal list of dog-related regulations will differ, especially if you are dealing with a single family rental property or a multi-unit building. It’s the first step in creating or amending a pet agreement or addendum. Washington Dog Laws Every Pet Owner Should Know | Gemma Zanowski. If you live in public or subsidized housing, increases in the amount of rent you pay are subject to the regulations for that housing and are usually related to your family's income. Adding an addendum about puppies and that they can only be on the property for a set time (like 7 weeks from birth). Deciding that you want copies of shot records annually instead of upon application. Yes, the landlord must paint occupied apartments in multiple dwellings (buildings with three or more apartments) every three years. Basements and cellars are very different spaces and thus have different legal uses. 299 Broadway, 4th floor, New York, NY 10007 Phone: 212-417-3700 Fax: 212-417-3890 www.mfy.org A Tenant’s Guide to New York City’s Pet Laws KeepingYour Pet in a NYC Apartment MFY Legal Services, Inc. & Community Access, Inc. 666 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10012 Phone: 212-780-1400 Fax: 212-780-1412 www.communityaccess.org You may not know this, but you could be able to keep a pet in a “no pets” apartment–legally. Companion Animals in NYC Apartments – 2009 Edition1 Federal, State and City Laws protect the rights of people, including the disabled, to have companion animals in their homes. For the last three months, one of the classic New York City real estate rituals was off limits: in-person apartment showings. Clipping or cutting the ears of dogs § 366. Press Releases. A service dog is a medical tool and not a pet. Before returning your deposit the landlord may check your apartment to determine if you caused any damage. Learn all the basics of NYC co-op and condo management, with straight talk from heavy hitters in the field of co-op or condo apartments. Ireland Dog Control Act | Dublin Breen Ban; New South Wales: Companion Animal Act; New Zealand Dog Control Amendment Act That said, there is a New York City Pet Law, part of the city’s Administrative Code, which specifically outlines exceptions for tenants who, for various reason, need to keep a dog. If you did not cause damage to the apartment, except for normal wear, the landlord should return the full amount of your deposit with interest. Tenants are also responsible to respond to owners on legally required notices, including the notice regarding lead-based paint and window guards. Tenants will sign a pet/dog amendment to the lease agreement that outlines designated pet bathroom areas and cleanup requirements. 55 million households in the United States own dogs, http://rentprep.com/landlord-tips/coronavirus-resources-new-york/, https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/success/real-estate-coronavirus/index.html, https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-01253, Applicants with dogs must show certification of completed behavior class, You will charge the maximum pet deposit and pet fees allowed by your state (or whatever you feel would be sufficient that is less), Tenants with dogs get two warnings about noise violations before receiving a comply or quit notice, Tenants will have dogs on a leash in all common areas. And thanks for sharing your experience! Building owners also must ensure that tenants have hot water 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at a minimum constant temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 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