Legal-Advocacy
BARRISTER’S BRIEFING: April is Fair Housing Month—Time for a Refresher
New York has gone to great lengths to ensure that consumers are treated fairly. All licensees are now tasked with ensuring all members of the public are treated with equity to ensure that steering and all other forms of discrimination are rooted out and eliminated.
The Truth About the NAR Settlement Agreement
The settlement achieves two important goals: protecting members to the greatest extent possible and preserving consumer choice.
BARRISTER’S BRIEFING: Roll Out of the New Property Condition Disclosure Statement: What You Need to Know
The new PCDS includes new language that requires the disclosure of issues related to flooding, but most importantly, it removes the $500 credit/waiver, which would have been provided by the seller to the buyer if the seller failed or refused to provide the PCDS.
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: Countdown to Lobby Day 2024
HGAR supports legislation that adds affordable rent-stabilized apartments to the rental housing stock that are safe, lead-free, energy efficient, and fully compliant with building codes.
LEGAL CORNER: Squatters’ Rights and Adverse Possession Issues
Any attempt by a homeowner or landlord to remove a “squatter” (and a tenant or holdover tenant) utilizing “self-help” would be deemed an unlawful eviction [and the owner or landlord would be subject to criminal liability.
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: So, What Do We Do?
Studies have shown that the construction of 100 units of multifamily housing generates an average of 161 jobs and $11.7 million into the local economy in the first year.
LEGAL CORNER: Recent Lead Paint Decision in New York City and a Review of Lead Paint Regulations
Local Law 31 also includes a five-year testing requirement, meaning that all residential building owners in NYC must have all dwelling units inspected for lead paint by Aug. 9, 2025.
BARRISTER'S BRIEFING: A Safe Place: Reviewing HGAR’s New Code of Conduct and the New HGAR Statement of Appropriate Event Conduct Statement
HGAR expects that all members act with courtesy and respect toward each other, the staff, service providers, speakers and event participants at all HGAR events and when acting as an HGAR member.
Attorney General Reaches Agreement with New Rochelle Brokerage on Discrimination Charges
“This agreement will open up housing specifically for low-income New Yorkers and send a clear message that this kind of discrimination is unacceptable in our communities,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
NAR Supports Centralization of Compensation Lawsuits
NAR’s view is that all relevant cases should be included in any consolidation (including buyer and seller cases), and the Northern District of Illinois is best placed to address the industrywide issues these cases present.
LEGAL CORNER: Recent Co-op Decision: Stromberg v. East River Housing Corp. and a Review of Co-Op Disclosure Legislation
Recently, the decision in Stromberg v East River Housing Corp. brings to light some of the issues that exist with regard to the co-op approval process and the restrictions that burden purchasers and sellers in co-op transactions.
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: Lobby Day 2024—Our Time to Shine
Last year, more than 110 HGAR members attended Lobby Day, which represented one-third of the total turnout of the entire New York State Association of Realtors in Albany. With two busloads of Realtors, HGAR came out in force and that effort was recognized.