Ossining, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 205 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 205-19
Collection of rents
Operative Text
No property owner, agent or person in charge shall collect rents during any period of noncompliance with this chapter which would otherwise be due and owing for the rental of premises unless and until the property owner shall have complied with the provisions herein. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent a property owner, upon receipt of the rental registry certificate, from receiving the equitable value of the occupancy of the premises from the earliest date of occupancy, but in no event shall a property owner recover in excess of the agreed rent. Failure on the part of the tenant to pay the equitable value of the occupancy of the premises from the earliest date of occupancy until the property owner's receipt of the rental registry certificate may not be used as a basis for eviction.
Ossining, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 205 § 205-19 establishes that a property owner who has not complied with the local rental registry requirements loses the right to collect rent during that period of noncompliance. Once the owner obtains the required rental registry certificate, they may seek the reasonable value of the tenant's occupancy going back to the earliest date of occupancy, but that recovery cannot exceed the amount of rent originally agreed upon. Importantly, a tenant's failure to pay during the noncompliance window cannot be used as grounds for eviction.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 205-19, compliant operators maintain an up-to-date rental registry certificate before collecting or demanding rent, since the ordinance bars rent collection during any period of noncompliance with ch. 205. Once the certificate is obtained, a property owner may seek the equitable value of occupancy from the start of the tenancy, though recovery is capped at the contractually agreed rent amount. Operators generally treat timely registration as a prerequisite to enforcing rent obligations rather than an administrative afterthought.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 205-19 of Ossining's Code of Ordinances provides tenants with a meaningful protection: if a property owner has not complied with the rental registry requirements of ch. 205, that owner cannot lawfully collect rent during the noncompliance period. Tenants should be aware that nonpayment during such a period is explicitly shielded from being used as a basis for eviction under this provision. Tenants who believe this protection applies to their situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the ordinance directly to understand available options, including raising the violation as a defense in any rent-related proceeding.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation