Provides that with respect to apartments covered by rent control, rent stabilization, or the emergency tenant protection act, a landlord must be free of outstanding building code violations to bring an action or proceeding for rent or eviction; provides alternative provisions for disputed violations; requires tenants to pay rent into an interest bearing account to be maintained by the court during the pendency of the dispute over the violation; payments may be made from such account to cover utility bills and the making of necessary repairs if the dispute is resolved in favor of the tenant; if such dispute is resolved in favor of the landlord, then he or she shall receive all such payments with interest thereon.