Title 9 Part 2525

It shall be unlawful, regardless of any contract, lease or other obligation heretofore or hereafter entered into, for any person to demand or receive any rent for any housing accommodation in excess of the legal regulated rent, or otherwise to do or omit to do any act, in violation of any regulation, order or requirement under the RSL or this Code, or to offer, solicit, attempt or agree to do any of the foregoing. In addition to the definition contained in section 2520.6(c) of this Title, the term rent, as hereinbefore defined, shall also include the payment by a tenant of a fee or rental commission to an owner or to any person or real estate broker where such person or real estate broker is an agent or employee of the owner employed by the owner in connection with the operation or management of the building in which the housing accommodation is located, or where the owner or his or her employee refers the tenant to such person or such real estate broker employed by the owner in connection with the operation or management of the building, for the purpose of renting the housing accommodation, or where there is common ownership, directly or indirectly, or a financial interest between the owner and such person or real estate broker.

Regardless of any contract, agreement, lease or other obligation heretofore or hereafter entered into, no owner, in addition to the authorized collection of rent, shall demand, receive or retain a security deposit or advance payment for or in connection with the use or occupancy of a housing accommodation which exceeds the rent for one month; provided, however, that where a greater security deposit was paid by the tenant in continuous occupancy since the date the housing accommodation became subject to the RSL, such deposit may continue in effect during the term of such lease and any renewals thereof with the same tenant. Such security deposit shall be subject to the following conditions:

It shall be unlawful for any owner or any person acting on his or her behalf, directly or indirectly, to engage in any course of conduct (including but not limited to interruption or discontinuance of required services, or unwarranted or baseless court proceedings or filing of false documents with or making false statements to DHCR) which interferes with, or disturbs, or is intended to interfere with or disturb, the privacy, comfort, peace, repose or quiet enjoyment of the tenant in his or her use or occupancy of the housing accommodation, or is intended to cause the tenant to vacate such housing accommodation or waive or not exercise any right afforded under this code including the right of continued occupancy and regulation under the RSC and RSL.