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NYCHA Agrees with Velazquez Letter to Queens Landlord

July 7, 2016

Washington, DC – The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has agreed with a letter Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) wrote to Silvershore Properties, which own a Ridgewood residential building, questioning whether the company is intentionally allowing certain units to fall into disrepair, making them ineligible for the Section 8 subsidy and thereby increasing tenants’ rents.

Velázquez released the following statement regarding NYCHA’s response letter:

“The response from the New York City Housing Authority only further underscores that tenants’ rights are being abused by Silvershore Properties. It is important NYCHA notes that these tenants can obtain a Section 8 transfer if Silvershore continues failing to make repairs. In any event, we must continue working with HUD, the State Attorney General and local regulators to protect these tenants and keep them in their homes.”

Velázquez recently introduced legislation that would make it illegal for landlords to intentionally allow Section 8 units to fall into a state of disrepair. The Landlord Accountability Act of 2016 would establish civil monetary penalties if landlords take actions, or neglect to take action, with the intention of disqualifying their units for federal housing programs like Section 8.

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Issues:Housing