On July 23, 2021, the Southern District of New York approved a settlement in Fields v. Russ, 19-cv-11368 (ER), a case in which twelve public housing tenants across the city sued NYCHA for failing to timely and accurately reduce the rent of households who experienced an income drop. This settlement agreement, which took effect on January 23, 2022, requires NYCHA to resolve interim rent reduction requests or rent grievances prior to commencing nonpayment or chronic rent delinquency cases. In addition, NYCHA is now subject to new procedures and time limits when processing rent adjustment requests.
The settlement is in effect for three years beginning on January 23, 2022, during which time NYCHA must submit reports to the plaintiffs showing their compliance with the settlement.
This page contains the settlement approved by the Court, various “Know Your Rights” materials, and in the future will contain further information and updates.
RESOURCES
- Know Your Rights: What Tenants Need to Know About NYCHA's New Rent Adjustment Process (2022)
(English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Bengali, Japanese) - Fields V. Russ Settlement Press Release (2021)
(English) - Fields V. Russ Filed Settlement (2021)
(English) - Fields V. Russ Complaint (2020)
(English) - Powerpoint: NYCHA's New Rent Adjustment Process (2021)
(English) - NYCHA Notices to Tenants on New Rent Adjustment Process (2022)
(English, Spanish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese)