Ouch. Better luck next time! This is one of thousands of apartments sitting empty and off the market across New York City under Governor Hochul’s watch.
How does this happen?

What is #HochulHousing?

New York City’s housing crisis is getting worse during Governor Hochul’s tenure.
There are thousands of rent-stabilized apartments sitting vacant across New York City. These units could provide affordable homes, but unreasonable state regulations make it unaffordable to repair and rent them out again.

The current housing system is broken — it was meant to protect tenants, but it's backfired — housing supply is reduced and renters are hurting.

Our movement is working to educate New Yorkers about a major unaddressed issue driving our city's current housing crisis.
Read #HochulHousing Horror StoriesGet the Facts about #HochulHousing

#HochulHousing Horror Stories

Read the testimonials below to learn more about what #HochulHousing looks like in person. In all units displayed, tenants left the apartments in this condition, didn't ask for repairs, and didn't provide access to the owner.
Rent-stabilized Bronx 1BR is left completely destroyed, with repairs too costly to put back on the market ↓
An affordable Brooklyn apartment left in ruins  ↓
A rent-stabilized apartment in Manhattan, filled with trash, sits vacant. ↓
An affordable Midtown 3BR is infested with cockroaches. ↓
An affordable Astoria 1-bedroom is ridden with mold. ↓

You’ve searched for months (with no luck) due to NYC's 1.4% vacancy rate.But now, you’ve stumbled on a gem: a centrally-located 1-bedroom in Astoria, that works with your budget!

That is, if only it were available... this affordable unit is NOT available because Governor Hochul has made it impossible for this unit’s small property owner Niko to bring it back to market.

The unit only looked cluttered at first glance, but actually has major damage from the previous tenant. The floors are torn up, walls and ceilings cracked, with signs of black mold and potential collapse. This unit is unsafe and needs a full overhaul.

Niko cannot afford the renovations and bad housing laws prevent him from raising the rent enough to recoup his investment.

This is the reality of #HochulHousing. NYC needs sane housing policies like everywhere else in the country that allow owners like Niko to repair this unit and recoup the costs while he's still alive.

But we don’t, because of laws from 2019 that hurt both renters and owners.

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#HochulHousing Facts

New York's current housing system is failing both property owners and tenants under Governor Hochul’s watch. Renters lose out when affordable housing sits empty or when living conditions deteriorate. This is the #HochulHousing crisis.
More Vacant Apartments Despite Housing Shortage: Over the past several years, an increasing number of rent-stabilized apartments have remained vacant, even as the demand for housing in New York City continues to grow. These units could help address the citywide shortage, but they are unavailable due to the inability to fund necessary repairs.
Apartments Sit Empty: These apartments are waiting on vital updates –new kitchens, new bathrooms, lead abatement, and other repairs that are legally required to make them safe and healthy for new tenants. Under the current system, units must be in good condition before they can be rented, but property owners are financially stuck.
Rent Doesn’t Cover Basic Costs: Often, these apartments were previously occupied by tenants who had lived there for decades. As a result, the rents are so low that they barely cover essential operating costs like heating, water, and insurance. There’s simply no money left for necessary repairs like replacing the refrigerator, upgrading the electrical system, or installing a new bathroom.
Costs Have Skyrocketed: Today, it costs significantly more to replace a refrigerator or remodel a bathroom than it did 5, 10, or 30 years ago. Meanwhile, the cost of borrowing money to fund these repairs has also increased. At the same time, property owners are unable to adjust rent levels to reflect these increased costs, meaning they cannot afford to reinvest in their properties.
Banks Won’t Lend: Because property owners are unable to recover the cost of repairs, banks won’t approve loans to fix the units. This financial deadlock leaves thousands of apartments in a state of disrepair, unavailable to those who need housing.
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Why This Hurts Renters: The current housing system is not just failing property owners—it's failing tenants too. The system was designed to protect tenants, but it's backfired by taking thousands of units off the market. In trying to preserve affordability, New York's state government has unintentionally reduced the supply of available housing, worsening the housing shortage.

Less Housing Supply = Higher Rents Elsewhere: With affordable apartments staying vacant, the overall supply of housing shrinks,driving up the demand for other available units. This pushes rents higher across the city, making it harder for renters to find homes.
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Delays in Necessary Upgrades: Tenants currently living in aging buildings are also affected. Property owners who can’t afford to make updates are unable to maintain their properties properly, leading to deteriorating living conditions for many. This impacts both quality of life and safety in these apartments.
Thousands of Apartments in Limbo: There are thousands of affordable, rent-stabilized apartments that could be housing families, seniors, or young professionals, but they sit vacant because property owners can’t make the necessary repairs. These units are stuck in limbo, leaving many renters with fewer options in an already tight market.
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