POSTINGS: Updating the Updates; Plain-English Housing Law
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The Citizens Housing and Planning Council, a nonprofit civic group in New York City, does a commendable job of translating arcane housing and rent codes into plain English. The volatility of the regulations, however, makes it hard for the council, and everybody else, to keep up with changes. Last year, the council published a bright yellow booklet called ”What Every Landlord and Tenant Should Know,” whose aim was to ”encourage better communication” between the two. The publication covered everything from security deposits and trash disposal to problem neighbors and pets, and it still is available for $2 at the council, 218 West 40th Street. But as rapidly as buildings rise and topple along the skyline, income ceilings change, as do arson hotlines. A three-page update, printed in October and enclosed with the booklet, lists dozens of corrections and 30 changed telephone numbers. And hardly had the ink dried on that update when another was needed. So slipped inside the October update now is a thin strip of paper that reads: ”Page 8. Since this update was prepared, the income limit has been raised from $10,000 to $12,025. Nov. 20, 1986.” But that doesn’t end the story. A further update may be needed when the new but long-delayed Rent Stabilization Code is published. It is expected soon. Source : query.nytimes.com |