NYC Mayor's Rental Ripoff Hearings to Start in Brooklyn

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday announced the start of the Rental Ripoff hearings, where city officials will be on hand to listen to complaints on unsafe building conditions, hidden fees and other housing abuses. 

The first hearing will be held in Downtown Brooklyn on Thursday, Feb. 26. Residents can sign up for one of two sessions: 5:30pm to 7:00pm or 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

“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,” Mamdani said in a statement. “What tenants share at these hearings won’t lead to empty promises. Their testimony will guide our work and help shape the policies we advance to build a city New Yorkers can afford to call their home.”

New Yorkers can speak about challenges ranging from mold, broken appliances and unsafe construction conditions to hidden fees and surprise charges. Tenants will also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with senior officials from the Mamdani administration, including commissioners from the city’s housing and consumer protection agencies, to help shape future policy.

The hearings will be held on:

• Thursday, Feb. 26 from 5:30pm - 8:30pm, Downtown Brooklyn

• Thursday, March 5 from 5:30pm - 8:30pm, Long Island City, Queens

• Wednesday, March 11 from 5:30pm - 8:30pm, Fordham, The Bronx

• Saturday, March 28 from 11:00am – 5:00pm, East Harlem, Manhattan

• Tuesday, April 7 from 5:30pm - 8:30pm, North Shore, Staten Island.

New Yorkers who cannot attend an in-person hearing can submit testimony via email to [email protected].

Within 90 days of the final hearing, the administration will publish a report proposing policy interventions to take on these ripoff tactics, informed by common grievances voiced by New Yorkers. In addition, input gathered at the hearings will help inform the Mamdani administration's forthcoming housing plan, officials said.