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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 093-10
March 2, 2010

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION REQUIRING REALTORS AND LANDLORDS TO DISCLOSE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR TENANT SCREENING AGENCY THAT WILL SCREEN RENTAL APPLICANT

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The final bill before me today is Introductory Number 5-A, sponsored by Council Members Garodnick, Brewer, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, Koslowitz, Lander, Lappin, Mark-Viverito, Palma, Seabrook, Williams, Arroyo, Crowley, Nelson, Reyna, Vann and Rodriguez.

"Introductory Number 5-A requires landlords, realtors, and others who rent residential properties to disclose the contact information of the tenant screening agency that they use to investigate potential tenants.  Realtors and landlords often use tenant screening agencies to determine if a potential tenant has appeared frequently before housing court, but their determinations are not transparent; reports do not provide context on why the tenant appeared in court, and few tenants even know that such a report has been compiled. 

"Introductory Number 5-A sheds light on this process.  It requires that all rental applications contain contact information for the tenant screening agency that the landlord will use, as well as a disclosure of the rights afforded to potential tenants under State and Federal law.  This information will also have to be posted in the offices of realtors and others who accept rental applications.  This legislation will encourage tenants to exercise their rights to inspect their reports and ensure that the information contained therein is accurate.

"I would like to thank Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz and his staff along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs for their work on this bill.  I would also like to thank the Council for approving this legislation."







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Stu Loeser/Evelyn Erskine   (212) 788-2958




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