The byzantine rules pertaining to single room occupancy properties (SROs) have befuddled owners, investors and tenants alike. Shame on the relevant city agencies for botching the noble goal of housing the less financially fortunate and society's most marginalized only to create deep confusion as to the rights and obligations of SRO tenants and landlords. The rules surrounding SRO properties often incentivize ownership to keep existing apartments vacant in the hopes of vacating the remaining units as part of the multi-step process of re-purposing the SRO to an alternative use.

In a city with a chronic affordable housing shortage, simplifying the SRO rules and maximizing tenant occupancy should be a top priority. For over half a century, SROs have been a form of affordable housing for New York's low-income residents and most of these dwellings contain single rooms without a bathroom, kitchen or shower; all of which are typically located elsewhere on the floor and shared with other tenants.

This property classification was largely introduced following World War II to balance inequalities, combat homelessness, and welcome veterans back home through a social safety net and, at one point in time, constituted hundreds of thousands of units spread throughout New York City. Today, the number of SRO units is estimated at somewhere between 15,000 to 35,000.