Does New York City have a right to a lawyer in eviction cases?

Key takeaways

• Federal law is a floor, mainly around discrimination and consumer protection.
• State law supplies the main landlord–tenant rules.
• Cities and leases can add duties. They rarely subtract federal civil rights.

Do this today

1. Search your state for the official chapter.
2. Keep the lease next to the notice.
3. If a court is named, call legal aid the same day.

What this page is not

• Not a national statute we wrote.
• Not a replacement for the official chapter.
• Not legal advice.

Confirm it locally

Caps, clocks, and entry hours live in your state chapter. Search below, or take the paper to legal aid if a court is named.

Terms on this page

Legal aid

People also ask

• Is 311 the same as Housing Court?
• Does an HPD complaint stop an eviction?
• Is my NYC apartment rent-stabilized?
• Is HUD the right door for a New York eviction?
• Where do I start tonight with a notice in New York City?
• Is a landlord notice the same as being evicted?

Official sources

• LawHelp.orgFree legal aid by state. Start here for court papers.
• HUD tenant rightsFederal floor and state HUD pages.
• Cornell LII landlord-tenant tableIndex of official state chapters. We name the chapter; we do not paraphrase a number out of it.
• 211Local rent, shelter, food, and utilities, in many languages.