Do this today
- Keep the original. Photograph every page, including envelopes and posting.
- Write the date, time, and how it arrived.
- Look for a court name, case number, or appearance date — that is court papers.
- If a court is named, call legal aid the same day. Do not guess the deadline.
What were you handed?
| The paper | What it usually is | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord notice | A step before a court case. Not a judgment, and not a lockout. | Date it. Keep the original. Write down how it arrived. Check whether it offers a chance to fix the problem. |
| Court papers | A case has been filed. A court name, case number, or appearance date is running. | Call legal aid the same day. Do not ignore it. Bring the papers and a timeline of how you received them. |
| Lockout or shutoff | Locks changed, belongings moved, or utilities cut on an occupied unit. | Call 211 and legal aid today. In most states a landlord may not do this personally. Police non-emergency can document it. |
Is a notice the same as being evicted?
No. In New York, as in most states, a written landlord notice is a step, not a judgment. A court case, then an order carried out by a sheriff or similar officer, is generally what completes an eviction. New York landlord-tenant and summary-proceeding statutes is where New York sets what the notice must say and how long it runs. We do not print that number here.
What generally happens next?
The sequence is broadly similar: written notice, then a court filing if the landlord proceeds, then a tenant response, a hearing, a judgment, and — only after an order — a law-enforcement removal. Names differ. Timing differs. New York justice, magistrate, or housing court labels differ. Missing a response deadline commonly leads to a default. That is why court papers are same-day work.
What should I be careful not to do?
Do not ignore court papers. Do not assume a lockout is lawful because a notice looks official. Do not sign a move-out or cash-for-keys paper you have not read with an advocate. Rent withholding, in some states, is a lawful process and in others is grounds for eviction — ask legal aid in New York before you skip a payment.
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.
The New York chapter
New York landlord-tenant and summary-proceeding statutes (N.Y. Real Prop. Law Art. 7; Real Prop. Acts. and Proc. Law) is the starting point. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
New York's tenancy rules are spread across the Real Property Law and the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, and the Attorney General publishes a Residential Tenants' Rights Guide. New York City and several counties have additional regulated-housing systems.
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.
Official sources
- StatuteNew York Real Property Law, Article 7 — Landlord and TenantNYS Open Legislation, the Senate's official law publisher.
- StatuteNew York Real Property Actions and Proceedings LawThe law governing summary proceedings, including eviction cases.
- State agencyNYS Homes and Community Renewal — Tenant Protection UnitState agency for rent-regulated housing and tenant harassment complaints.
- State agencyNew York Attorney General — Residential Tenants' Rights GuideThe state's plain-language guide for renters.
- Free legal helpLawHelpNY — Tenant and homeowner rightsStatewide legal-aid guides and referrals.
- Statute indexCornell LII landlord-tenant tableN.Y. Real Prop. Law Art. 7; Real Prop. Acts. and Proc. Law
- FederalHUD — New York
- Free legal helpLawHelp.org — New York
Common questions
Is an eviction notice in New York the same as being evicted?
No. A notice is a step a landlord takes before filing. In most places an eviction is completed only through a court case and an order carried out by an officer. Look first for a court name and a case number.
How long does an eviction notice last in New York?
That number is in New York landlord-tenant and summary-proceeding statutes, and it depends on the reason for the notice and sometimes on the city and the housing type. This site does not reprint it. Open the chapter or call legal aid with the paper in your hand.
Can my landlord in New York change the locks?
In most states a landlord may not carry out a removal personally. If locks have changed, belongings moved, or utilities cut on an occupied unit, treat it as an emergency: legal aid, 211, and in an unsafe situation, 911.
Where is free eviction help in New York?
LawHelp.org routes New York renters to nonprofit legal aid. Dial 211 for local services. Court self-help desks exist in many courthouses. None of those are 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.
The national eviction notice guide has the full sequence. Open the eviction notice guide
People also ask
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org