New York is not the most landlord-friendly state. As New York homeowners, we are facing unfair situations where tenants intentionally delay or fail to pay rent. It has become a breeding ground for bad tenants who exploit loopholes. These tenants withhold rent without facing any responsibility or penalties, leaving homeowners to shoulder the financial burden. Since the pandemic, tenant protection policies, especially when combined with a slow and costly eviction process, have indirectly encouraged non-payment of rent, leading to a rise in squatting and other system abuses. This has placed an unfair and overwhelming burden on property owners who rely on rental income to meet their financial obligations.
The consequences for homeowners include:
- Lost rent, often for months or even years, with no financial recourse.
- Exorbitant legal fees incurred during lengthy eviction processes.
- Unpaid property taxes and mortgage payments due to non-paying tenants, putting many homeowners at risk of foreclosure.
- Forced home auctions, where properties are seized and sold because homeowners are unable to recover financially.
These policies disproportionately harm small, independent homeowners who rely on rental income to pay their mortgages, taxes, and maintenance costs. When tenants fail to pay, the entire financial burden falls on homeowners, many of whom are struggling to keep their homes and maintain their livelihoods.
We, the undersigned, urge government officials to immediately reform tenant protection laws to ensure they are fair to both tenants and homeowners. Specifically, we call for:
- Streamlining the eviction process to prevent months or years of unpaid rent from piling up.
- Providing financial assistance to homeowners dealing with non-paying tenants, including legal aid and tax relief.
- Holding tenants accountable for willful non-payment of rent and curbing squatting to prevent abuses of tenant protection laws.
- Protecting homeowners from foreclosure when unpaid rent results in their inability to pay property taxes or mortgages.
- Establishing a fair balance between protecting vulnerable tenants and safeguarding homeowners’ rights.
Homeowners deserve protection from unfair financial losses caused by non-paying tenants. The current policies need to be reformed to prevent further damage to the housing market and to ensure that homeowners, who have already shouldered an enormous burden, are not left without recourse.
Sign this petition to demand justice for homeowners and a fair resolution that balances the needs of both tenants and property owners.