Rent-aid bill to be heard in Albany

ALBANY — State Sen. Michael Gianari s is unveiling a measure to provide much needed relief to renters, businesses and building owners struggling to make ends meet due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Queens Democrat plans to introduce a measure Monday that will offer 90 days of rent forgiveness to residential and commercial tenants if they lose work or are forced to close because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

It will also offer assistance to smaller building owners facing financial hardship if tenants can’t make payments.

“We’re dealing with a fastmoving situation that is impacting millions of people and we’re trying our best to develop policy that accounts for the massive impacts,” Gianaris (photo) told the Daily News on Sunday.

New York’s statewide mandatory “stay-athome” order, implemented to stem the spread of the coronavirus, has left hundreds of thousands of residents out of work and wondering how they’re going to make rent.

Gov. Cuomo, among other measures, gave property owners a 90-day waiver for paying mortgages and announced a three-month suspension on all commercial and residential evictions.

On Sunday, the governor said New York “took care of the rent issue.”

However, tenant advocates are calling for a full halt on all rent payments as the potentially deadly disease continues to wreak havoc.

Gianaris’ plan would offer a bit of respite for renters and should please landlord groups who say placing a moratorium on rent payments doesn’t work without giving owners assistance if they in turn have trouble paying mortgages, utilities or just maintaining buildings during the crisis.