BRONX, NY (August 13, 2026) – After the passage of Int. 839-A, which will strengthen and permanently codify the Certification of No Harassment program, NYC Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings, shared the following: 

“Every tenant deserves to live free from harassment, regardless of their immigration status. At a time when the federal government is targeting immigrant communities, New York City must ensure that each of our neighbors receives the strongest possible tenant protections. This is how we build a city that is safe and welcoming for all. 

“Today, the Council has taken an important step toward that city, enacting Int. 839-A to make the Certification of No Harassment Program permanent and stronger. The revamped program will monitor problematic landlord portfolios, expand anti-harassment protections for immigrant tenants, and create stronger incentives for owners to improve living conditions in their buildings. Over the past 8 years, the CONH program successfully deterred harassment and now, we are ensuring that it becomes a permanent tool at the City’s disposal. 

“Finally, I want to extend my gratitude to the coalition of tenant organizers and legal service providers whose partnership made this legislation possible. The leadership of the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD) and the Coalition Against Tenant Harassment deserve tremendous credit for their steadfast advocacy over the past decade. Going forward, I am excited to work with our City agencies who have stewarded this program to ensure its continued success, and I remain committed to the fight for safe and dignified homes.” 

BACKGROUND 

  • The Certification of No Harassment program was created to deter owners from using construction to harass and displace tenants from their homes. The City Council first enacted CONH through Local Law 1 of 2018, sponsored by former CM Lander and created in partnership with the Coalition Against Tenant Harassment. 
  • The bill responds in five key ways: 
  1. Makes the program permanent. After two four-year pilots, CONH has proved itself to be a useful tool for identifying buildings with high risk of harassment, deterring bad behavior, and improving building conditions.  
  1. Expands protection for immigrant tenants. The bill responds to rising harassment in two ways: 
  • Expands the definition of tenant harassment to include (1) landlords threatening to report tenants to ICE and (2) landlords refusing to perform maintenance on the basis of a tenant’s immigration or citizenship status 
  • Connects tenants with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and CCHR if they have filed (or wish to file) a report of unlawful discrimination on the basis of their immigration or citizenship status  
  1. Monitors problematic portfolios. Corporate landlords evade scrutiny of their full portfolios through the cover of LLCs. To address this, the bill requires HPD to review all buildings that share the same owner as a building with a recent finding of harassment.  
  1. Creates stronger incentives to clear violations. The bill adds a new pathway to allow buildings to exit the CONH program. However, to qualify, an owner must significantly improve living conditions for their tenants. HPD conducts a floor-to-cellar inspection of the property to ensure no owner can game the system.  
  1. Clarifies that basic repairs have been and continue to be allowed. A common misconception of the program is that it prevents owners from doing routine maintenance. That is false.  
  • The law clearly defines which types of work require a CONH. A building must already be on the CONH List, and the work must rise to the level of a significant renovation or demolition. Any work that is not “covered” can proceed without a CONH. 

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