[Adopted 5-28-1985 by L.L. No. 19-1985 (Ch. 406, Art. I,
of the 1985 Code)]
A.Â
This Legislature hereby finds that individuals, especially senior
citizens and young couples, experience personal disruption and financial
hardship when compelled to vacate rental premises on short notice
by landlords leasing premises for an indefinite term.
B.Â
The purpose of this article is to provide such tenants with minimum
lease terms so as to allow for orderly long-term planning by such
individuals.
C.Â
This Legislature further determines that the establishment of minimum
standards to strengthen and clarify the legitimate rights of tenants
and landlords in Suffolk County will protect the public interest,
public health, safety and general welfare of all residents of this
County by preventing uncertainty, potential hardship and dislocation
of tenants.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A structure containing more than two dwelling units.
Any building located within the County of Suffolk, permanent
or temporary, or any part thereof, occupied or intended to be occupied
by one or more individuals as a residence, home or sleeping place,
together with the land and buildings appurtenant thereto and all services,
privileges, furnishings, furniture and facilities supplied in connection
with the occupation thereof. It shall not include a lodging house,
boardinghouse, motel or hotel.
An owner, lessor, sublessor or assignee of a housing accommodation
in a premises owned by a cooperative corporation or association, or
any other person receiving or entitled to receive rent for the use
or occupancy of any housing accommodation, or an agent of any of the
foregoing.
An individual, corporation, partnership, association or any
other organized group of individuals or the legal successor or representative
of any of the foregoing.
Consideration, including any bonus, benefit or gratuity,
demanded or received for or in connection with the use or occupancy
of housing accommodations or the transfer of a lease of such housing
accommodations.
A tenant, subtenant, lessee, sublessee or other person entitled
to the possession or to the use or occupancy of any housing accommodation.
Any landlord renting a housing accommodation to a tenant within
the County of Suffolk shall offer to such tenant, in writing, a minimum
lease term of one year. This provision may be waived by the tenant,
in writing, by the election of a tenancy on a month-to-month basis.
[Added 3-18-2008 by L.L. No. 6-2008]
A.Â
Any landlord offering to rent a housing accommodation which is the
subject of a pending foreclosure action or proceeding shall notify
a prospective tenant, in writing, of the foreclosure action, prior
to entering into a lease with the prospective tenant.
B.Â
Any landlord renting a housing accommodation to a tenant within the
County of Suffolk shall provide such tenant with written notice that
a foreclosure proceeding has been initiated against the premises that
are the subject of the lease within five business days of receiving
notice of the foreclosure proceeding.
[Amended 3-18-2008 by L.L. No. 6-2008]
A.Â
A willful violation of this article by a landlord shall constitute
a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. Each violation
shall be deemed a separate offense.
B.Â
Any individual injured in whole or in part as a result of a violation
of this article by a landlord may bring an action to recover damages
in an amount not to exceed three times the actual damages or $500,
whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees. This remedy
shall be in addition to, and shall not preclude, any action that an
individual may have under common law, local law, state law or federal
law.
