Tenants & Neighbors Home

About Tenants & Neighbors

Tenants & Neighbors is a grassroots organization that helps tenants build and effectively wield their power to preserve at-risk affordable housing and strengthen tenants' rights in New York.

Through organizing, education, intensive leadership development, grassroots mobilization, and strategic policy and legislative advocacy, Tenants & Neighbors is building a strong and unified tenant movement that has the knowledge and power to effect real change.

Tenants & Neighbors is comprised of two affiliate organizations, New York State Tenants & Neighbors Information Service, which does organizing, education, and leadership development and New York State Tenants & Neighbors Coalition, a membership organization that spearheads legislative campaigns.

Upcoming Events

There are several events coming up that we strongly encourage Tenants & Neighbors members to attend:

June 5: The People's RGB

This year the RGB is hosting just one public hearing, and it is in Manhattan, primarily during working hours. We formally requested that an additional outer borough hearing be scheduled during evening hours- the time and place convenient to most rent stabilized tenants-but the RGB failed to act. What can we do? We are hosting our own hearing! We want to show the RGB that rising rents impact tenants in all NYC neighborhoods. We will be joined by elected officials, members of the media, and some Rent Guidelines Board representatives. This event is sponsored by Tenants & Neighbors and CASA. Wednesday, June 5th, 5:30pm, New Settlement Community Center, 1501 Jerome Ave, at 172nd Street, Bronx (D or 4 train to 170th Street). For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Sam Stein: 212 608 4320 x316, or sstein@tandn.org.

June 10: HCR Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Rules and Regulations Regarding Rent Law Enforcement

For years, Tenants & Neighbors and other tenant organizations have been demanding that New York Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) issue new rules for stronger enforcement of the rent laws. In 2011, the rent law renewal mandated that HCR take that important step. Now, they have finally gone ahead and issued several pages of new regulations, all of them pro-tenant. While there is much more to be done to improve rent law enforcement, this is a really important step in the right direction. On Monday, June 10th, from 10 am to 4:30 pm at 1 Bowling Green, HCR will be hearing testimony from tenants and landlords about their proposed regulations. We'll be holding a press conference at 9 am in front of 1 Bowling Green to call attention to this issue. Please mark your calendars, and come testify if you can- it is very important that there be a strong tenant presence. This is an important step forward for tenants rights, and we'll have to show our support if we want the proposed regulations to become law. For additional information on the proposed regulations, talking points for testimonies, or to RSVP, please contact Sam Stein: 212 608 4320 x316, or sstein@tandn.org.

June 13: NYC RGB Hearing on Proposed Rent Increases for Rent stabilized Tenants

This is the Rent Guidelines Board's one and only formal public hearing this year. It is crucially important that tenants speak out against rising rents, and tell the board about both the hardships tenants are facing and the ways landlords are finding to raise rents and extract fees. Please consider testifying on behalf of rent stabilized tenants- yourself, your neighbors, and your community. You can call to pre-register at 212 385 2934. The hearing will be held on Thursday, June 13th, at 49-51 Chambers Street, starting at 10 am, with registration closing at 7 pm but testimony continuing until all registered speakers have been heard. For talking points, additional information, or to RSVP, please contact Sam Stein: 212 608 4320 x316, or sstein@tandn.org.

What's Happening Now?

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How We Assist Tenants

New York State Tenants & Neighbors Information Service

Answer Your Questions
about Tenants' Rights
We can answer questions you may have about your rights as a tenant. Email your question to us at info@tandn.org or give us a call at 212-608-4320. Rent regulated tenants, please call extension 314 or 316. Other tenants, please call extension 400.

Help You Organize
a Tenant Association
If you would like to start a tenant association in your building or revitalize an existing tenant association, contact Katie Goldstein at 212-608-4320 ext. 400 or email kgoldstein@tandn.org.

Help You Organize
a Building Campaign
If your tenant association would like to organize a campaign around an issue in your building, contact Katie Goldstein at 212-608-4320 ext. 400 or email kgoldstein@tandn.org.

New York State Tenants & Neighbors Coalition

Help You Organize
a System Change Campaign
We have a number of ongoing campaigns to address the underlying causes of loss of affordability. The best way to get involved is to join one of our Tenant Leadership Committees, which help us determine campaign goals and plan strategies and tactics. For more information, contact Katie Goldstein at 212-609-4320 ext. 400 or email kgoldstein@tandn.org.

Get Informed

Follow the Rent Guidelines Blog
We have a blog about the New York City Rent Guidelines Board from the tenant perspective. Follow it here.

Keep up to Date with T&N
There are several ways you can stay on top of the work of Tenants & Neighbors. You can like our Facebook Page, follow us on Twitter at @tenantneighbor, and sign up to receive the e-update, below:

For Email Newsletters you can trust

Get Involved

Become a Member
Annual dues are only $35 for individuals, $10 for youth under 25 and low-income people. Click here to join the New York State Tenants & Neighbors Coalition. As soon as you join, we'll send you a membership card in the mail.

Come to a New Member Orientation/ Get Active Meeting
For more information about these meetings, contact Katie Goldstein at 212-608-4320 ext. 400 or email kgoldstein@tandn.org.

Join a Tenant Leadership Committe
The committees typically meet on a monthly basis, in the evenings, and they help us plan and carry out our campaigns. We provide training and leadership development to committee members. If you are interested, contact Katie Goldstein at 212-608-4320 ext. 400 or email kgoldstein@tandn.org.