New York tenant rights

What should I do if I get an eviction notice in New York?

Treat it as time-sensitive, not as an eviction. A landlord notice in New York is usually a step before a court case — not a judgment and not a lockout. If the paper names a court, a case number, or a date to appear, a case has been filed and a response window is running. Write down when and how it arrived, keep the original, and call legal aid the same day if a court is named. How long the notice runs is in New York landlord-tenant and summary-proceeding statutes, not in a national chart.

How do security deposits work in New York?

New York landlord-tenant and summary-proceeding statutes is where New York sets whether there is a cap, what may be deducted, and how long a landlord has to return what is left. Those figures change, and reprinting a stale number is how people miss a window. Document the unit at move-in and move-out, return keys the way the lease requires, keep a forwarding address, then read the chapter or take the file to legal aid.

What if my landlord will not make repairs in New York?

Most states, including New York, expect a landlord to keep a rental fit to live in. The exact process — written notice, a waiting period, repair-and-deduct, escrow, or a code complaint — is a New York question, and withholding rent without checking is one of the highest-risk moves a renter can make. Put the request in writing, date it, photograph the condition, and ask legal aid before you skip a payment.

Can my landlord enter without notice in New York?

Entry rules in New York are in New York landlord-tenant and summary-proceeding statutes, and they often differ for emergencies, repairs, and showings. This site does not invent a national hour-count. If an entry felt improper, write down the date, time, who entered, and whether you were told in advance — then confirm the statute or ask legal aid.

Does my city in New York add extra renter rules?

New York City has its own rent-stabilization system, housing court, and housing maintenance code. Some other counties and municipalities have adopted rent regulation as well. Whether a particular building is regulated is a building-by-building question.

Where is free legal help in New York?

LawHelp.org routes New York renters to nonprofit legal-aid offices. Dial 211 for local rent, shelter, or utility help in many languages. If you have court papers, call legal aid the same day and ask about walk-in or self-help hours at the courthouse. Those resources are free and are never behind a sign-up on this site.

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.

What is a summary proceeding in New York?

That is the court case to recover possession. In the five boroughs it is NYC Housing Court. Elsewhere it is often City Court or another local court named on the paper. A landlord notice is a step. Court papers are same-day legal aid.

Is Good Cause eviction the same as rent stabilization?

No. Rent-regulated status is a unit question HCR answers. Good Cause is a statewide overlay with its own exemptions. Coverage is not every unit. Ask legal aid with the lease. Do not treat a social-media summary as the map.

What these New York sources cover

• Article 7 of the Real Property Law addresses landlord and tenant obligations for residential premises. The Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law addresses summary proceedings — the court process a landlord uses to recover possession.
• The Attorney General's tenants' rights guide is the state's plain-language overview for renters.
• New York State Homes and Community Renewal administers rent-regulated housing and operates a Tenant Protection Unit.

Official sources

New York city desks

City ordinances sit on top of New York law. Each desk names the local office and the court. We do not invent a local deadline.

• New York CityHPD handles conditions. HCR handles whether a unit is rent-regulated. Housing Court handles possession. 311 is how you open a City service request. Those four are not interchangeable.
• BuffaloNew York State law is the book. Buffalo City Court and 311 are the local doors — not NYC HPD.
• RochesterNew York State law is the book. Rochester City Court and 311 are the local doors — not NYC HPD.

Questions on this desk

• Is a landlord notice the same as being evicted?
• What number should I call right now?
• Is there a national tenant-rights law in the United States?
• What should I do if I get an eviction notice?
• How do I find free legal help as a renter?
• Can my landlord enter without notice?

Common questions