NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer. Image credit: Office of the New York City Comptroller

Audit shows Housing Department has inadequate controls in place to monitor and keep track of vacant units. On June 24, 2015, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer released an audit report that examined how the New York City Housing Authority manages vacant apartments in developments throughout the city. The report discussed the process by which an apartment becomes vacant in NYCHA’s system and when certain units are taken off of the rent roll. NYCHA classifies apartments as either being on the rent roll (on roll) or off of the rent roll (off roll). On roll units are those that are either occupied by a tenant or in the process of being turned over to a new tenant. Off roll units are those that are not available for residential use for an extended period of time due to major repair or renovation.

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Audit found that NYCHA could save $1.5 million in its capital projects program annually. On March 15, 2012, City Comptroller John C. Liu issued an audit report on the New York City Housing Authority’s oversight of its Construction Management Build Program. Under the program, known as CM/Build, NYCHA awards contracts to construction management firms to provide pre-construction and construction management services for particular capital projects. NYCHA implemented the program in 2003 to improve project quality and ensure the effective and efficient administration of projects. As of the report date, NYCHA had awarded CM/Build contracts totaling $425 million to ten firms. No City funds were used for the CM/Build program, but the Comptroller audited it to identify any issues that could affect NYCHA capital improvement projects where City funding is used.

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