NYC Mayor Announces 'Rental Ripoff Hearings' Across 5 Boroughs

Mamdani administration seeks direct input from tenants on housing challenges and policy solutions.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a series of 'Rental Ripoff Hearings' to be held across the five boroughs, inviting local renters to share their experiences and challenges with housing issues such as broken appliances, unsafe conditions, hidden fees, and unresponsive landlords. The administration says the feedback gathered at these public hearings will guide new policy proposals to address the concerns of tenants.

Why it matters

Rental affordability and housing quality have been longstanding issues in New York City, with many residents struggling to find safe, well-maintained, and reasonably priced homes. By directly engaging with tenants, the Mamdani administration aims to craft more responsive and effective policies to protect renters' rights and improve living conditions.

The details

The specific venues for the 'Rental Ripoff Hearings' have not yet been revealed, but the administration has announced the dates and times for each borough: Manhattan on March 15, the Bronx on March 22, Brooklyn on March 29, Queens on April 5, and Staten Island on April 12. Renters can sign up to attend in person or submit their stories via email if they are unable to participate in the hearings. The administration says the feedback gathered will be used to develop new policy proposals to address the challenges faced by New York City tenants.

  • The 'Rental Ripoff Hearings' will be held in Manhattan on March 15, 2026.
  • The 'Rental Ripoff Hearings' will be held in the Bronx on March 22, 2026.
  • The 'Rental Ripoff Hearings' will be held in Brooklyn on March 29, 2026.
  • The 'Rental Ripoff Hearings' will be held in Queens on April 5, 2026.
  • The 'Rental Ripoff Hearings' will be held in Staten Island on April 12, 2026.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who announced the 'Rental Ripoff Hearings' to gather input from tenants on housing challenges.

Leila Bozorg

The deputy mayor for housing and planning in New York City.

Dina Levy

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

Cea Weaver

The director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants in New York City.

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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 (cbsnews.com)

“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 (cbsnews.com)

“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 (cbsnews.com)

“These hearings are a historic opportunity for policymakers to hear directly from tenants. Your story can improve lives for millions of New Yorkers.”

— Cea Weaver, Director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Mamdani administration says it will produce a report with new policy proposals to address what's discussed in the public 'Rental Ripoff Hearings'.

The takeaway

By directly engaging with tenants across New York City's five boroughs, the Mamdani administration aims to craft more responsive and effective housing policies that address the real-world challenges faced by renters, from hidden fees to unsafe living conditions, in order to improve affordability and quality of life for millions of New Yorkers.