In response to a series of political setbacks in New York City’s real estate sector, a new industry group has emerged with the goal of bolstering the influence of landlords and brokers in local politics. The organization, named Built for New York, seeks to counterbalance the growing power of tenant advocates who have leveraged recent legal victories and electoral gains.

Since 2019, New York has seen the enactment of some of the nation’s strongest tenant-protection measures. State lawmakers passed laws tightening rent regulations, the City Council banned many broker fees for renters, and in November 2023, Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor on a platform promising a rent freeze for close to a million households. These developments have significantly shifted the political landscape, leaving many in the real estate industry seeking a more organized response.

Jason Haber, a Compass real estate agent and longtime Democratic activist who founded Built for New York, emphasized the need for a structured, long-term political effort within the industry. The group, supported by about $500,000 in funding, is organized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, allowing it to engage in political activity with limited donor disclosure. Haber noted that while tenant organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America and local unions have built effective grassroots campaigns, the real estate sector had relied too heavily on large financial contributions rather than grassroots organizing.

Built for New York aims to mobilize brokers and landlords similarly to tenant groups, advocating for policies favorable to the housing market and property owners. One early focus for the group is New York City’s closed primary system, which limits primary election voting to registered party members. Many real estate workers identify as independents and are thus excluded from primaries, which often determine election outcomes in the deeply Democratic city. Haber argued that reforming this system could align real estate interests with young and minority voters, many of whom also prefer open primaries.

At an informal launch event held in a Manhattan Upper East Side co-op, Haber highlighted the need for a proactive approach beyond traditional campaign donations. "We have to build an infrastructure that drives campaigns," he said, advocating for an ongoing political presence rather than reactive spending. Members such as Sarah Saltzberg, co-owner of Bohemia Realty Group, echoed this sentiment, expressing a desire for the industry to engage earlier in the political process and communicate more openly about their priorities, including the push for increased housing development and the renovation of rent-stabilized units.

Tenant advocates acknowledge the challenges facing the real estate industry in the current political climate but remain confident in their own momentum. Sumathy Kumar, executive director of the New York State Tenant Bloc—a pro-renter 501(c)(4) group formed last year—acknowledged the real estate sector’s anxiety over tenant victories but affirmed that her organization and its allies will continue pushing for policies centered on tenant protections. Cea Weaver, director of Mayor Mamdani’s Office to Protect Tenants, previously led the Tenant Bloc and plays a significant role in the city administration’s pro-tenant agenda.

As the housing affordability crisis intensifies, the growing competition between tenant advocates and real estate interests signals an increasingly contested political battleground in New York City, with both sides ramping up efforts to influence policy and public opinion.