By Nathan Duke
Real estate brokers and sales representatives will no longer be able to solicit property listings of residents from several northeast Queens neighborhoods, which will become cease and desist zones, state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) said.
On Aug. 1, cease and desist zones will go into effect in Bayside, Bellerose, Whitestone and Queens Village. Under Padavan’s legislation, licensed real estate brokers and sales representatives will be prohibited from soliciting listings of residential properties from homeowners whose names appear on a list released by the New York State Department.
“This is a perfect opportunity for homeowners in these designated neighborhoods to ward off unwanted and pesky salespersons and real estate brokers,” said Padavan, who originally sponsored cease and desist legislation in 1989. “I urge homeowners to take a step to stop over-the-top solicitations and join the cease and desist program as soon as possible.”
Other cease and desist zones that currently exist in the borough are the Rockaways, South Ozone Park and Woodhaven. Several sections of Brooklyn and the Bronx are also on the list.
Cease and desist zones are up for renewal every five years.
Homeowners in the neighborhoods must file with the State Department by July 8 to be placed on the list.
Padavan said the entire borough of Queens was once designated as a cease and desist zone for solicitation from sales representatives and brokers.
“The purpose of the cease and desist rule is to protect the public,” said Lorraine Cortez-Vazquez, secretary of the State Department. “After studying this issue for the last year and hearing evidence that homeowners within the proposed zones have received frequent mailings, unwanted fliers and pesky telephone calls as well as door-to-door visits soliciting the sale or listing of their property, we have determined that placing parts of the Bronx and Queens under the cease and desist rule will protect thousands of New Yorkers in these neighborhoods who are planning to remain in their homes for the foreseeable future.”
Cease and desist zones exist for five years, but can be extended at that time for an additional five years by the State Department’s secretary.
Once the department publishes the list of homeowners in the zones, brokers and sales representatives will not legally be allowed to solicit them.
The form for the list can be located on the State Department’s website at dos.state.ny.us/lens/edform.asp.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
