Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA) Rent Regulation

The Common Council has approved the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA) to establish rent stabilization in the city. A study authorized by the city found a vacancy rate of 4.03 percent in Poughkeepsie. Under ETPA, municipalities with a vacancy rate under 5 percent are eligible to declare a housing emergency and opt into rent stabilization.

The ETPA is expected to apply to approximately 1,500 units built before 1974 that contain six units or more.

Among other steps, the council must now submit to the state a list of candidates to serve on a rent guidelines board. That list of candidates must include tenants, landlords and property owners, and public representatives.

The Rent Guidelines Board will consist of nine (9) members as follows:

• Two to be representatives of tenants (The representatives cannot be an officer of a tenant organization)
• Two to be representatives of property owners (The representatives Cannot own property subject to ETPA in any jurisdiction in NYS)
• Five public members each of whom shall have had at least five years of experience in finance, economics or housing (years spent achieving a degree in one of these fields does not qualify as experience).

Individuals interested in serving on the Rent Guidelines Board must submit an application form to etpa@cityofpoughkeepsie.com.
The application must be submitted with a resume or list of relevant work experience to be considered.
Please submit applications by July 26, 2024.