Mayor Mamdani Takes Action on NYC Housing Crisis

New administration cracks down on negligent landlords and accelerates affordable housing development in first 100 days

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:14am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A photorealistic painting of a multi-story apartment building in New York City, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the facade and windows. The scene conveys a sense of urban solitude and the challenges facing residents in the city's housing market.The Mamdani administration's efforts to protect tenants and hold negligent landlords accountable aim to address New York City's longstanding housing crisis.NYC Today

In his first 100 days in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has taken decisive steps to address the city's housing crisis. The administration has strengthened tenant protections, held negligent landlords accountable, and sped up the development of affordable housing units across the five boroughs.

Why it matters

New York City is facing a severe housing affordability crisis, with historically low vacancy rates and rapidly rising rents. The Mamdani administration's actions aim to provide immediate relief for tenants while also implementing long-term structural reforms to increase the supply of affordable housing and hold bad landlords responsible.

The details

Key actions taken by the Mamdani administration in its first 100 days include: strengthening the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, intervening in bankruptcy cases to secure building repairs, reaching multi-million dollar settlements with landlords to correct violations, conducting 'Rental Ripoff' hearings to document tenant abuse, establishing a task force to expedite affordable housing development, creating a library of pre-approved plans for accessory dwelling units, and allocating hundreds of millions in funding to repair and improve NYCHA properties.

  • On his first day in office, Mayor Mamdani signed Executive Order 3 to revitalize the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants.
  • In the administration's first 100 days, it has already taken enforcement actions, reached settlements, and won court judgments against negligent landlords.
  • The administration has also launched new initiatives to speed up affordable housing production and improve housing quality across the city.

The players

Zohran Kwame Mamdani

The newly elected Mayor of New York City who has made addressing the housing crisis a top priority in his first 100 days in office.

Leila Bozorg

The Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning, who is overseeing the administration's efforts to deliver immediate relief and long-term solutions to the housing crisis.

Cea Weaver

The Director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, who is leading the administration's crackdown on negligent landlords and efforts to support tenant organizing.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We are in a housing crisis, and New Yorkers cannot afford delay or half-measures. From day one, we've stood with tenants, taken on bad landlords, and started to move the machinery of government at the speed this moment demands.”

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Mayor of New York City

“In our first hundred days, we have delivered meaningful immediate relief for thousands of New Yorkers, while laying the groundwork for long-term success. We're protecting tenants, investing in affordable housing, and ensuring that every neighborhood is a part of the solution to the housing crisis - because New Yorkers deserve a city they can afford.”

— Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning

“In the Mamdani administration, the Mayor of New York is on tenants' side. In 100 days, we launched Rental Ripoff Hearings across the five boroughs and heard from thousands of New Yorkers about what we can do to be more responsive to their needs. We have already made clear that we will use every tool at our disposal to protect tenants, crack down on persistent bad landlords, and preserve affordable homes.”

— Cea Weaver, Director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants

What’s next

The administration plans to continue its crackdown on negligent landlords, with the judge in the case against Seth Miller set to decide on Tuesday whether to allow additional $1,000 daily penalties for ongoing violations. The administration will also work to further streamline the affordable housing development process and secure additional funding for NYCHA repairs.

The takeaway

The Mamdani administration's swift and comprehensive actions in its first 100 days demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing New York City's housing crisis through a multi-pronged approach of tenant protection, landlord accountability, and accelerated affordable housing development. These efforts aim to provide immediate relief while also laying the groundwork for long-term, systemic change to ensure all New Yorkers have access to safe, stable, and affordable homes.