New York, Jan 06 (V7N) - New York City Hall is taking direct action against long-standing irregularities, hidden fees, and mismanagement in the city’s rental market. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has issued an executive order to hold a series of public hearings titled “Rental Ripoff” across all five boroughs within the first 100 days of his administration, providing tenants with the opportunity to share their experiences and complaints directly with city officials.

The initiative will involve coordinated efforts by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Department of Buildings, the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. The newly established Office of Mass Engagement will serve as the central coordinator. Following the hearings, a summary and analytical report will be published, which will directly inform future policy and enforcement actions.

Mayor Mamdani’s administration has made tenant protection a priority from day one. On his first day in office, he restructured the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and appointed Sia Weaver, a key figure in drafting the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, to lead the office.

Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su stated that safe, quality, and affordable housing is essential for economic justice. She emphasized that enforcing laws in existing buildings is as important as constructing new housing. According to Su, the hearings will ensure the city not only listens to tenant concerns but also takes visible action against violations while raising awareness about tenant rights.

Sia Weaver, Director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, highlighted that for years tenants have faced exploitation without effective remedies. She noted that the hearings will bring workers’ experiences to the forefront, creating a genuinely participatory process in city governance. The initiative aims to address unsafe housing conditions, hidden fees, and other unethical practices through coordinated measures.

Commissioner Sam Levin of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection added that in New York’s affordable housing crisis, tenants are often subjected to extra and hidden fees—from amenity charges to processing fees. The administration will ensure that every New Yorker knows their rights and has a strong advocate within city government.

According to Executive Order No. 8, issued on January 4, 2026, at least one hearing will be held in each borough. Tenants, advocacy organizations, legal aid groups, social service agencies, landlords, and property managers will all have the opportunity to provide testimony. Within 90 days of the final hearing, a joint report will be submitted to the mayor and published on the relevant departments’ websites.

The executive order underscores the city’s commitment to intensified enforcement against negligent and unscrupulous landlords, faster legal action, and ensuring tenant compensation and protection. The announcement of the “Rental Ripoff” hearings has set expectations for direct policy and legal action to address decades-long grievances in New York’s rental market.

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