Homeowners Who Hope to Legalize Basement Apartments Can’t Even Apply

THE CITY—A signature Adams administration “City of Yes” housing program became law last month, but needed rules and a promised online portal still haven’t materialized.

Vanita Maloney knows there’s more than enough room in her home in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, to house other New Yorkers. She’s eager to rent out her basement.

But she can’t. A city pilot program to legalize and regulate basement apartments and other so-called accessory dwelling units that could have been up and running by mid-June has not yet gotten off the ground. 

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“I’m waiting for the program to come into fruition because I can’t put anyone there until I’m authorized to do so,” Maloney said. “I have to wait for them to start the process and bring in the correct people to ensure it’s approved.”

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“We’re now 15 months into the five-year window and that’s becoming increasingly a short window for homeowners to be able to act,” said Howard Slatkin, executive director of the Citizens Housing and Planning Council. “They have lots of information to process and decisions to make and finances to review in order to understand if this is something they can start. We need to give them as soon as possible all the information they need.”

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