In a perfect world, all apartments would be safe and happy places to live, rents would always be fair, and repairs would be done quickly and thoroughly. But believe it or not, renting in New York City is not quite so perfect! In reality, renters often have disputes with their landlords and have no idea how to solve them.
Thankfully, numerous agencies and organizations focusing on tenant rights in NYC can help with your dispute. If you’re a renter in a legal dispute with your landlord, consider turning to these official resources for information on your rights and accessing free or low-cost legal assistance.
State agencies
New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR): If you live in a rent-regulated apartment, HCR’s Tenant Resources portal is your destination for filing a complaint, requesting a rent history for your unit, reporting overcharges, and more. You’ll also find resources like fact sheets, tenant forms, operational bulletins, and policy statements for rent-regulated tenants.
New York State Attorney General (NYAG): The NYAG website provides some of the most comprehensive information and resources on housing law and tenants’ rights you can find. Start with the Tenants page for topics including rent and security deposits, housing discrimination, tenant harassment, tenant organizations, health and safety, and evictions. The Residential Tenants’ Rights Guide covers everything from lease succession or termination to habitability and repairs. You can also file a complaint for violations regarding (but not limited to):
- Security deposits
- Eviction or harassment
- Tenant blacklisting (being refused an apartment because you’ve had a legal dispute with a previous landlord)
- Housing discrimination
- Excessive application fees or advance fees
- Source of income discrimination (including housing vouchers)
Having issues getting your security deposit back? This page offers a complaint form and explains the process of filing a suit in small claims court to recover your deposit.
City agencies
Rent Guidelines Board: The NYC Rent Guidelines Board is the place to go for answers to questions about leases, rent increases, repairs and maintenance, subletting, and more. The agency also provides helpful resources like an apartment hunting guide and where to find housing and legal assistance.
Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD): Established in 1978, HPD’s mission is to “promote quality and affordability in the city’s housing.” Their Housing Quality / Safety section has information about heat and hot water requirements, elevators, fire safety, window guards, and more. The Tenants’ Rights and Responsibilities page includes comprehensive FAQs, and the ABCs of Housing guide to housing rules and regulations for tenants is updated annually. You can also find out how to report various types of housing complaints.
Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit: The NYC Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (PEU) connects New Yorkers to key city services, including a Tenant Support Unit. The PEU also operates a live Tenant Helpline, which tenants can call to speak with dedicated staff and receive support for urgent housing matters. Just call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline.
Housing Court
New York City Housing Court: The city’s Housing Court website is where you can find court locations, hours, phone numbers, services, fees, forms, and more. You’ll also find legal information on matters like nonpayment proceedings and illegal lockouts.
Free or low-cost legal assistance
Human Resources Administration: NYC’s Right-to-Counsel Law ensures access to free legal services for eligible tenants. The NYC Human Resources Administration website explains who is currently eligible and how to get help. The site also contains a list of nonprofit law offices that are contracted by the city to provide free legal services under the Right-to-Counsel Law.
New York City Housing Court: The NYC Housing Court website also includes information on how eligible tenants can get a free lawyer for their Housing Court case under the Right-to-Counsel Law. If you don’t qualify under the law, go to the Finding Legal Assistance page for other resources on finding a free or affordable lawyer. The page even offers tips on how to represent yourself in court, if you choose to do so. In addition, the court runs a Volunteer Lawyers Program through which tenants can get free legal advice on their case from volunteer lawyers.
The Legal Aid Society: This advocacy group works to ensure all New Yorkers have equal access to justice. They provide free legal assistance on housing matters to those who qualify. To find out if you qualify, call the neighborhood office in your borough.
Rent Guidelines Board: The NYC Rent Guidelines Board website offers a comprehensive list of resources for finding legal assistance through various public and private organizations.
You can also find helpful resources on renters’ rights, standards and regulations, and navigating the NYC rental market with confidence right here on StreetEasy. Visit our resource hub for renters to learn more.
