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Loft Board Tenant

In 1982, the New York State Legislature enacted the Loft Law to address the housing crisis created by the conversion of commercial and manufacturing buildings and units to residential use without compliance with applicable laws. These converted buildings and units are known as Interim Multiple Dwellings (IMD).

If you are a tenant living in an Interim Multiple Dwelling (IMD) unit that is under the jurisdiction of the Loft Board, the Loft Law provides you with the following rights:

  • You may not be evicted by your landlord because the IMD unit you are living in lacks a residential Certificate of Occupancy.
  • You are entitled to housing maintenance services, including, but not limited to, heat, hot water and electricity.
  • You have a right to remain in your IMD unit provided the unit is your primary residence.
  • Your rent may not be increased by your building owner while your IMD unit is under the Loft Board’s jurisdiction, unless such an increase is provided by law.
  • You may not be harassed by your building owner and you have the right to file an application at the Loft Board based on a claim of harassment if you believe the owner of your building is harassing you.
  • You may sell improvements that you have made to your IMD unit, as well as your Loft Law rights, to the owner of your building for good and valuable consideration.
  • You remain entitled to these rights even if your building is sold to new ownership.
  • After your building is issued a residential Certificate of Occupancy by the DOB, your apartment may become rent regulated, which gives you the right to renewal leases and provides you with certain protections against unlawful rent increases under the rent stabilization program.

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