New Yorkers are increasingly turning to a government website to access their rent histories, driven by a surge in social media activity. The Division of Homes and Community Renewal has reported a significant increase in requests, leading to delays in response times.
Social Media Activity Drives Rent History Requests
The Division of Homes and Community Renewal has acknowledged that a rise in social media engagement has resulted in a higher volume of individuals seeking details about their apartments through the state government's online portal. The agency revealed that the current influx of rent history requests is unprecedented.
Viral TikToks Encourage Rent History Inquiries
Recent viral TikTok videos have played a crucial role in encouraging New York tenants to inquire about their rent histories. These videos have sparked widespread interest and prompted numerous users to seek information on whether their units are rent-stabilized or to seek assistance in negotiating lower rents with their landlords.
Extended Wait Times for Rent History Information
The DHCR portal, which facilitates requests for information on rent histories and rent stabilization status, is currently experiencing a wait time of approximately 20 days. The surge in requests follows the circulation of TikTok videos instructing individuals to access their rent histories, with a significant spike in engagement observed from late January through February.
Openigloo's Impact on Rent History Inquiries
Openigloo, a platform for property listings and landlord reviews, has significantly contributed to the surge in rent history inquiries through informative TikTok content. The platform's co-founder, Allia Mohamed, has helped individuals navigate the process of obtaining rental history data from the government, leading to a substantial increase in inquiries for assistance.
Insights from Rent History Requests
Individuals like Diana Prendergast, a recording artist residing in New York, have sought their rent histories to determine if they are overpaying. The interest in accessing rent history data stems from a desire to understand rent-stabilization status and potentially address overcharging issues.
Challenges Faced by Tenants
The surge in rent history requests follows reports of a backlog of complaints at DHCR in 2022, with some individuals waiting years for resolution on overcharge complaints. Tenant advocacy groups have highlighted the prolonged decision-making process for addressing rent overcharge issues.
Community Efforts to Map Rent-Stabilized Apartments
Openigloo is actively developing a public map of rent-stabilized apartments in New York City, urging tenants to contribute their rent history data to identify discrepancies and errors. By engaging tenants in sharing their rental histories, the platform aims to address overcharging issues and enhance transparency in the rental market.
If you have requested your rent history or encountered overcharging, reach out to the reporters at erelman@businessinsider.com and jkaplan@businessinsider.com for further insights.
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By: insider@insider.com (Eliza Relman,Juliana Kaplan)
Title: New Yorkers Use Social Media to Check if They’re Overpaying for Rent
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/nyc-apartments-rent-history-stabilized-renters-landlords-overwhelm-government-2024-2
Published Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2024 11:28:01 +0000
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