Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law a bill sponsored by Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-Newburgh) requiring a property owner to allege proof of compliance with the City of Newburgh’s Rental Registry Law as a condition of bringing an eviction petition in court.

Jacobson said, “In a few weeks after being sworn in as a Councilmember in the City of Newburgh in 2018, I passed a landlord registry requirement to help Newburgh enforce its building code.

Unfortunately, many landlords have failed to comply with the law, meaning that many residents continue to live in subpar housing. Also, in an emergency, such as a fire, Newburgh is too often unable to notify the landlord since the landlord has not complied with the registry law and provided contact information.

“By requiring landlords to register as a condition of allowing them to evict tenants, they will have an immediate, monetary incentive to comply with the law. As a result, the City of Newburgh will be able to track down landlords and better enforce its building code, resulting in safer and healthier living conditions for renters and a more habitable city for all.”

Mayor Torrance Harvey said that this new law was “a huge win for the residents of the City of Newburgh.” The bill was carried in the State Senate by Senator Robert Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie).