NYC Mayor Launches Rental Ripoff Hearings Across All Boroughs

Tenants invited to share experiences with hidden fees, unsafe conditions, and unresponsive landlords

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a series of five public Rental Ripoff Hearings, one in each borough, where New Yorkers will be invited to share their experiences renting in the city. The hearings aim to create a direct line between tenants and city leadership, with tenants speaking about challenges ranging from mold and broken appliances to hidden fees and surprise charges. Tenant testimony will help shape future policy to address these issues.

Why it matters

The Rental Ripoff Hearings are an important step in the Mamdani administration's efforts to make housing more affordable and livable for New Yorkers. By directly engaging with tenants, the city hopes to uncover the most pressing rental-related issues and develop targeted policy solutions to protect renters from predatory practices by landlords and brokers.

The details

The Rental Ripoff Hearings will be held on the following dates in each borough: February 26 in Downtown Brooklyn, March 5 in Long Island City, Queens, March 11 in Fordham, the Bronx, March 28 in East Harlem, Manhattan, and April 7 in North Shore, Staten Island. At the hearings, tenants will be able to record testimony or meet one-on-one with city officials from agencies like the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

  • The Rental Ripoff Hearings will be held from February 26 to April 7, 2026.
  • Within 90 days of the final hearing, the Mamdani administration will publish a report proposing policy interventions based on tenant testimony.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who announced the Rental Ripoff Hearings.

Leila Bozorg

The Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning in New York City.

Cea Weaver

The Director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants.

Dina Levy

The Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.

Sam Levine

The Commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

Ahmed Tigani

The Commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings.

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What they’re saying

“You can't fight for tenants without listening to them first. That's why we're launching Rental Ripoff Hearings in all five boroughs-bringing together renters to speak directly about what they're facing, from hidden fees to broken tiles and unresponsive landlords.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (Mirage News)

“At New York City's first-ever Rental Ripoff Hearings, tenants will be able to speak directly with city officials so their experiences can shape real policy reforms. We're looking forward to hearing from New Yorkers in every borough about the challenges they face, from hidden fees to code enforcement failures.”

— Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning (Mirage News)

“Tenants are the backbone of New York City, but too many are struggling every day with surprise charges and unsafe living conditions. These hearings are a historic opportunity for policymakers to hear directly from tenants: whether you're fighting to get repairs or being hit with unexplained fees, your story can improve lives for millions of New Yorkers.”

— Cea Weaver, Director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants (Mirage News)

“New Yorkers deserve a rental system that keeps everyone safe and housed. We want to hear directly from tenants as it's the most effective way to craft responsive policies, and ensure that the right enforcement strategies are included in our housing plan. We take this process seriously and these hearings will be used to drive real change.”

— Dina Levy, Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner (Mirage News)

“Broker fees, hidden charges, and other predatory practices are ripping off working New Yorkers and jacking up the cost of where they live. The Rental Ripoff Hearings are an important step toward holding landlords and brokers accountable.”

— Sam Levine, Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner (Mirage News)

What’s next

Within 90 days of the final hearing, the Mamdani administration will publish a report proposing policy interventions to address the issues raised by tenants during the Rental Ripoff Hearings.

The takeaway

The Rental Ripoff Hearings represent a significant effort by the Mamdani administration to directly engage with New York City tenants and develop targeted solutions to the rental-related challenges they face, from hidden fees to unsafe living conditions. By elevating tenant voices, the city hopes to craft more responsive and effective policies to make housing more affordable and livable for all New Yorkers.