Councilmember Brad Lander

The de Blasio administration has released proposed rules for its pilot certificate of no harassment program, a tool housing advocates have pushed for years as a way to curtail what they say is systematic badgering of tenants.

Under the program, which targets a number of community districts around the city, property owners seeking buildings permits will have to certify that they have not been cited for harassing their tenants. The program was created by Local Law 1 of this year, after the City Council in late 2017 approved a bill authored by Brooklyn member Brad Lander.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development will hold a public hearing on the proposed rule on August 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Room 6S, sixth floor, at 100 Gold Street in Manhattan. You must sign up to speak (for up to three minutes) at the hearing, either by calling 212-863-5604 or by signing up in the hearing room before the hearing begins.

You can also submit comments via a website (http://rules.cityofnewyork.us), via email (rules@hpd.nyc.gov), via mail (to Assistant Commissioner Martha Weithman, Department of Housing Preservation and Development, 100 Gold Street, Room 6Z1, New York, N.Y. 10038) or fax (to Assistant Commissioner Martha Weithman at 212 863- 8201).

Here are the proposed rules: