In another instance of throwing common sense out the window, the NYC Council, with 30 of 50 members on board, is poised to pass a bill that prohibits landlords from conducting background checks on tenants. With background checks, tenants can generally be assured that their neighbors are not violent criminals. Live-in landlords of 2-family properties are exempt from adherence to this law, but those who rent out both units are prohibited from conducting background checks. For owners of 3+ unit buildings, the bill applies. Interestingly, the bill doesn’t affect NYCHA. The city as landlord can screen, but you can’t. Dumb, dangerous, and outrageous.