STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN JENIFER RAJKUMAR’S BILL SIGNED INTO LAW TO SPEED UP AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION, GET SIDEWALK SHEDS DOWN FAST

 

GROUNDBREAKING BILL SAVES TIME AND MONEY BY RESOLVING ACCESS TO ADJOINING LOTS

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar proudly announced that her legislation A357B has been signed into law, modernizing New York’s laws on accessing neighboring properties for improvement and repairs. Now in effect, her law cuts red tape, kickstarts construction, and completes projects fast—allowing sidewalk sheds to come down faster—all while protecting the rights of neighboring property owners.

The Assemblywoman’s bill creates a clear, predictable framework when property owners need temporary access to adjoining property to safely complete projects. In the dense urban environment that is the Big Apple, such projects can easily require access to ten or more neighboring lots. It clarifies notice requirements; defines common construction activities such as scaffolding, sidewalk sheds, and safety netting; and gives courts greater discretion to resolve access disputes efficiently. By reducing uncertainty and litigation delays, the law allows critical safety work to proceed without unnecessary and expensive stoppages—shortening construction timelines and speeding up sidewalk shed removal.

At the same time, A357B strengthens protections for adjoining property owners. The law requires reasonable prior notice, mandates insurance coverage, holds builders liable for any damage, and ensures neighbors are reasonably compensated for any loss of use and enjoyment during construction.

Rajkumar’s bill will swiftly resolve the occasions where adjoining property owners refuse access or demand extortionary compensation. Before her law, people seeking to perform much-needed repairs or build affordable housing faced the difficult choice of lengthy and expensive legal wrangling in Supreme Court and hoping for a favorable outcome—during which time costs pile up and construction sites and sidewalk sheds lie fallow—or caving in to neighbors’ demands. The outdated system of negotiating access created nightmare cases such as $1 million in added costs to construct a 250 unit affordable housing development, and an additional $800,000 for a development with 40% affordable units.

Assemblywoman Rajkumar said, “Good contracts make good neighbors, and now all neighbors will enjoy a fair, efficient, and transparent process when one needs access to the other’s property. My bill makes home and building repairs faster, safer, and easier for all New Yorkers. It gets unsightly sidewalk sheds down and affordable housing up. This is a win for homeowners, tenants, and safer communities.”

The Assemblywoman’s bill passed unanimously with the support of a host of stakeholders, including the Business Council of New York, the New York State Association for Affordable Housing, the Associated General Contractors of New York State, the Building & Realty Institute of Westchester & the Mid-Hudson Region, and the Office of the Mayor.