WHAT IS SRO AS A HOUSING ALTERNATIVE?

SRO stands for "single room occupancy." An SRO is a classification of affordable housing somewhere between an apartment and a hotel. An SRO unit generally consists of a single room and a bathroom that is shared with other tenants. The SRO unit may also have access to a common kitchen area.

SRO buildings are governed by rent stabilization laws. Therefore, rent increases and the services required to be provided to tenants are set forth in such laws. New residents in an SRO can become a permanent tenant, protected by rent stabilization laws, by residing in an SRO unit as a principal residence continuously for 6 months or more, by submitting a written request for a lease of 6 months or more to the landlord, or by residing in a property pursuant to a lease of 6 months or more, even if actual occupancy is less than 6 months. Anyone who has lived in an SRO unit for more than 30 days or who has become a permanent tenant by requesting a lease, or otherwise, cannot be evicted without a court order and warrant of eviction.

The above explanation was provided by Neil B. Garfinkel, REBNY Broker Counsel Partner-in-charge of real estate and banking practices at Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP

There are a number of homes in Bedstuy/Bushwick and even Brooklyn as a whole which were grandiose brownstones, carved and changed into SRO homes. This home is an example of a legal two family with SRO (single room occupancy), and has been used by the current owner as a regular rental property/Air B&B for the last eleven years. 132 Quincy Street is a great example of the co-living trend taking over historical and traditional neighborhoods such as Clinton Hill.