A City Council bill that would mostly bar landlords from conducting criminal background checks on prospective tenants is facing intense backlash from a small group of council members, even as a majority of the body has signaled support for the measure.
The bill, named the “Fair Chance for Housing Act” – Intro. 632-A, would prohibit landlords from running criminal background checks on those applying to rent, buy or sublease apartments in the Big Apple, according to the council’s online summary of the bill. Sponsored by Keith Powers (D-Manhattan), the council’s Democratic majority leader, the measure would apply to those who’ve been convicted of a crime – or have a pending case – for a broad range of infractions, even murder and other high level offenses.
