The Blog

What is Annual Safety Mailing? All property managers/landlords of a building with 3+ apartments must send yearly safety documentation and…

As the anniversary of the devastating Belmont fire draws near, NYC officials are looking for ways to prevent such tragedies…

Did you know that smoking kills 12,000 New Yorkers every single year? The government has always been at the forefront…

The days are long gone when complaining about a company meant spending hours on hold waiting to talk to a customer service rep. In our digital world, all it takes is a few keystrokes for a customer’s less-than-satisfactory experience to go public—or even viral.

Sometimes it can feel like the NYC compliance code changes as often as the weather. What’s lawful and compliant today can be a reason for a violation tomorrow. Keeping up with the constant changes isn’t easy—but that’s where we come in. Jack Jaffa & Associates is committed to keeping you informed about all the changes the DOB implements to the NYC compliance code and all related regulations.

On August 24th, 2018, the DOB officially amended Local Law 141 of the administrative code of NYC, effective immediately.

Early last month, NYC’s Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) voted to approve the largest rent increase on regulated apartments since 2013. The vote was cast with the narrowest margin possible, and the public reaction to the vote has been a vociferous mix of disappointment and resentment.

Vacancies are more than just a trivial annoyance; they can put a serious strain on your budget and cost you big. But attracting those perfect tenants can be challenging.

The NYC compliance code means the city’s landlords always need to stay on top of the game. You have to make sure you’re not missing any important deadlines or breaking any laws or you risk being issued a violations and paying heavy fines.

Report cards aren’t just for school kids anymore! Thanks to New York City’s new Local Law 33, the entrance to every large building in the city will soon be sporting a prominent letter from A-F attesting to the building’s energy efficiency score.

As a NYC property owner, one of your primary goals is holding onto your tenants. Keeping your units occupied with happy, responsible tenants prevents you from blowing money on frequent turnovers or even sustaining losses from vacant units.

They did it again! The DOB has recently modified the ECB Penalty Schedule for 2018. While this is an annual occurrence, this year the changes are more significant than usual. Many violations are increasing, several new infractions have been introduced, and some existing penalties are decreasing. The new schedule has already gone into effect on March 7th, 2018 and all NYC property owners and builders must abide by the changes.

They did it again! The DOB has recently modified the ECB Penalty Schedule for 2018. While this is an annual occurrence, this year the changes are more significant than usual. Many violations are increasing, several new infractions have been introduced, and some existing penalties are decreasing. The new schedule has already gone into effect on March 7th, 2018 and all NYC property owners and builders must abide by the changes.

The DOB is always trying to improve the safety of construction in NYC, and the issuance of Local Law 81 is no exception. The law took effect on November 6, 2017, and as a NYC property owner, you need to be fully knowledgeable about this law and every part of the NYC compliance code.

Several weeks ago, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the Predatory Equity Bill has officially become law. Under this new legislation, the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development will publish a “Speculation Watch List” which will identify all recently sold, rent-regulated buildings where tenants may be at risk of displacement due to aggressive investors.