July 7, 2006

Altmann Announces Rent Guidelines Board votes ‘06 rent increases

Legislator Lisanne Altmann (D-Great Neck), an advocate of tenants’ rights in Nassau County, said this week that she is pleased that the rent increases approved June 27, by the Rent Guidelines Board are “moderate.”

In a 5-3 vote, the Rent Guidelines Board approved a .50 percent increase for one year lease renewals and a one percent increase for two year lease renewals for the Village of Hempstead. In addition, the Board supported a 2.25 percent increase for one year lease renewals and a 4.25 percent increase for two year lease renewals for other municipalities in Nassau County. The increases represent the lowest rent increases in the past three years.

“Through the hard work of Tenants and Neighbors we were able to keep the rent increases below the record high levels of past years,” said Legislator Altmann.

Public members Mike Miller, Adam Mahoney and Jack Mevorach as well as chair Catherine Kirk and tenant member Stanley Beitler voted in favor of the increases while public member John Mastromarino and landlord members Barry Stein and Andrew Cohen voted in opposition.

A move to postpone the vote until new tenant member Catherine Harris could be seated, failed on a 4-4 vote with Kirk and Mastromarino joining with two landlord members in opposition. Catherine Harris was unanimously approved by the Nassau County Legislature on June 5, to fill the vacancy created when Agnes Rodriquez moved to Florida more than a year ago. Her appointment, which requires Gov. George Pataki’s approval, is not yet official.

In addition, two other appointments of public members, which have been approved by the Nassau County Legislature, Rev. Mark Lukens and Martin Melkonian, have been stalled on the Governor’s desk. Rev. Lukens would replace John Mastromarino and Melkonian would replace Jack Mevorach.

In 2003-2004, the Rent Guidelines Board approved increases of five to eight percent for one and two year lease renewals. In 2004-2005 the rents increased by 4.25 and 6.25 percent for one and two year leases and in 2005-2006 the increases were 5.25 and 7.25 percent for one and two year leases. In addition, in 2005-2006, a motion was made by the board to institute an additional 10 percent vacancy allowance on top of a statutory vacancy bonus and a low income guideline of one and two percent for one and two year lease renewals for tenants who could prove an annual gross household income of $24,000 or less. The guidelines are being challenged.

Legislator Altmann, who is concerned that the board nominations for new members have not been approved in Albany said that she looks forward to participating in “a total revamping of the Rent Control Guidelines Board next year. We must get a tenant member seated and replace others who have been part of the problem.”