New York Rent Laws
EHRCL Table of Contents

The Emergency Housing Rent Control Law of 1961 [EHRCL]

Section 6.     INVESTIGATIONS; RECORDS; REPORTS.

1.   The commission is authorized to make such studies and
     investigations, to conduct such hearings, and to obtain such
     information as the commission deems necessary or proper in
     prescribing any regulation or order under this act or in the
     administration and enforcement of this act and regulations
     and orders thereunder.

2.   The commission is further authorized, by regulation or
     order, to require any person who rents or offers for rent or
     acts as broker or agent for the rental of any housing
     accommodations to furnish any such information under oath or
     affirmation, or otherwise, to make and keep records and
     other documents, and to make reports, and the commission may
     require any such person to permit the inspection and copying
     of records and other documents and the inspection of housing
     accommodations. The administrator or any officer or agent
     designated by the commissioner for such purposes, may
     administer oaths and affirmations and may, whenever
     necessary, by subpoena require any such person to appear and
     testify or to appear and produce documents, or both, at any
     designated place.

3.   For the purpose of obtaining any information under
     subdivision one, the commission may by subpoena require any
     other person to appear and testify or to appear and produce
     documents, or both, at any designated place.

4.   The production of a person's documents at any place other
     than his place of business shall not be required under this
     section in any case in which, prior to the return date
     specified in the subpoena issued with respect thereto, such
     person either has furnished the commission with a copy of
     such documents certified by such person under oath to be a
     true and correct copy, or has entered into a stipulation
     with the commission as to the information contained in such
     documents.

5.   In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena
     served upon, any person referred to in subdivision three,
     the supreme court in or for any judicial district in which
     such person is found or resides or transacts business, upon
     application by the commission, shall have jurisdiction to
     issue an order requiring such person to appear and give
     testimony or to appear and produce documents, or both; and
     any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished
     by such court as a contempt thereof. The provisions of this
     subdivision shall also apply to any person referred to in
     subdivision two, and shall be in addition to the provisions
     of subdivision one of section ten.

6.   Witnesses subpoenaed under this section shall be paid the
     same fees and mileage as are paid witnesses under article
     eighty of the civil practice law and rules.

7.   Upon any such investigation or hearing, the commissioner or
     an officer duly designated by the commission to conduct such
     investigation or hearing, may confer immunity in accordance
     with the provisions of section 50.20 of the criminal
     procedure law.

8.   The commission shall not publish or disclose any information
     obtained under this act that the commission deems
     confidential or with reference to which a request for
     confidential treatment is made by the person furnishing such
     information, unless the commission determines that the
     withholding thereof is contrary to the public interest.

9.   Any person subpoenaed under this section shall have the
     right to make a record of his testimony and to be
     represented by counsel.