This week we asked readers their thoughts on the sweeping new rent laws passed last week in Albany, and if these new laws will affect and protect local residents.

The new rent laws are very good; I mean, rent is too exorbitant now. It’s a serious problem. You need two people, [each with a job], just to pay the rent, otherwise you can’t survive. The new laws will protect people from being thrown out by a landlord, so it’s good that the new laws protect us.
Teddy Equal
Norwood

 

I have been looking for an apartment and I’ve got my voucher, but with all this chaotic stuff going on with landlords, I kind of know how it is. I don’t think the new laws are good for the community; landlords shouldn’t be allowed to raise the rent at all. It’s bad enough now they want at least $1,200 for a one bedroom, when you can go out of state and get a one bedroom for $300. And the way the apartments are in the Bronx, they’re crap. They also say all these new buildings are low-income, but you have to make a minimum of $25,000 a year. That’s not low-income.
Shavonda Lewis
Riverdale

Well, I know, for the longest time in New York City, the courts pretty much sided with the landlords and now if there’s a change, it’s got to be working better for the tenants and people in general. Greed is the whole problem in a nutshell. If you don’t pay, you’ve got to go, and the problem is with all of these one-shot deals that welfare gives people, landlords are getting money from every angle and they’re not fixing anything.
Ed Stolz
Morris Park

The privilege that these landlords thought they had–raising rents and putting all of these families in a bad situation, because everyone has different circumstances and problems — it’s been hard. Right now, what I hope can be done is that they start to increase the rent at a slower pace than inflation and that will prevent a lot of families from being evicted.
Joanna Colon
Kingsbridge Heights

 

Well, if these laws favor residents, that’s good, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen. We’re just going to have to see what happens and see how the new laws are enforced. I’m on the fence with it, because so much is going on at the same time.
Tracy Travis
Bedford Park