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Rights

Is New York State the same as New York City for renters?

No. Real Property Law and the RPAPL are statewide. NYC adds the Housing Maintenance Code, HPD, 311, and Housing Court in the five boroughs. HCR administers rent-regulated housing. Buffalo, Rochester, and the rest of the state are not HPD. Do not call NYC HPD about an upstate unit.

You do not have to solve the whole case tonight. Take the next right step.

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.

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    Cluster: Rights

    Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org