THE CITY OF NEW YORK

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

N E W Y O R K , N Y 10 00 7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 8, 2010
No. 384
www.nyc.gov

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION TO UPDATE THE PROCESS FOR

REGISTERING MULTIPLE DWELLINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws
“The final bill before me is Introductory Number 87-A, sponsored by Council Members
Mark-Viverito, Reyna, Brewer, Chin, James, Lander, Williams, Vacca, Foster, Dromm, Jackson,
Barron, Levin and Gennaro. Introductory Number 87-A improves transparency and enhances
accountability of the process by which corporations register multiple dwellings they own with the
Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD).

“The Multiple Dwelling Registration System was created by HPD to ensure that owners of
multiple dwellings – and certain one and two family homes – provided the Department with their
most current contact information – including their names, business and residential addresses, and
telephone numbers – on an annual basis. The Multiple Dwelling Registration System is designed
to give HPD and tenants information to contact landlords in instances of Housing and Maintenance
Code violations, complaints, litigation proceedings or emergencies.

“Quite frequently, property in New York City is owned by a corporation, and under the
current system, all named officers must register with HPD. Introductory Number 87-A expands
the registration requirement to include the names and business addresses for all shareholders that
own at least 25% of the corporation. In addition, Introductory Number 87-A prohibits the
registration of a post office box or any other mail handling service as the only business address.

“The primary goal of the Multiple Dwelling Registration System is to get all property
owners to comply with the law and register with the Department. Full compliance is a means to
enforce landlord accountability, which, in turn, can help ensure tenants’ units are properly
maintained and that complaints and violations are quickly addressed and remediated.

“I would like to thank HPD Commissioner Rafael Cestero and his staff for their work on
this bill along with my Office of City Legislative Affairs. I would also like to thank the City
Council for approving this legislation.”

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Contact: Stu Loeser/Evelyn Erskine (212) 788-2958