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It may be uncomfortable to contemplate a landlord who can enter your apartment at virtually any time. Nobody loves the idea of providing a stranger with the key to their home. Unfortunately, landlords usually have a key by default. And if you attempt to circumvent this reality by installing your own lock, you’ll be dealing…

Landlord harassment is illegal in New York. Tenants have the right to enjoy their units in peace so long as they are meeting the terms of their lease.  Yet landlords may try to harass tenants for many reasons, especially in New York’s competitive real estate market. Often, the goal is to get you to break…

The rental market is tough everywhere, but it doesn’t get tougher than New York City. If you’re going to make it as a renter here, you’ve got to adopt some smart legal habits to protect yourself. Here are five habits that real estate lawyers like me recommend to New York tenants.  #1) Reading the Lease…

Security deposits are an endless source of frustration for New York tenants. It can be difficult to get them back even if you move out of a squeaky clean, undamaged apartment.  In addition, security deposits can serve as a barrier to moving into a new place. Here’s what you need to know about New York…

There are few things more disgusting or distressing than a bedbug infestation. That’s why New York specifically has laws to protect tenant’s rights to a bedbug-free environment.  Here’s what you need to know. Your Rights If Your Unit Has Bedbugs If you have bedbugs, your landlord has 30 days to correct this problem. It’s considered…

You spend the night with your significant other. Your landlord tells you they will evict you for having sex before marriage unless you agree to stop seeing your significant other on their property. Can they do it? Or you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and your landlord catches wind of your orientation. Can…

Recently, residents of a building in the Bronx went on a rent strike. Their landlord refused to fix rodent and cockroach infestations, peeling paint, leaking pipes, broken cabinets, refrigerators, outlets, and stoves. They also filed a lawsuit to get the landlord to address the issues. There are even worse stories out there. Some tenants in…

In recent news, New York City tenants marched by the thousands to protest rental conditions in the city, bearing signs like “Cap the Rent” and “The Rent is Too Damn High.”  Collective action is powerful, but marching isn’t your only option. You could also form a tenant organization to champion your interests.  In New York,…

When you receive an eviction notice, your landlord accuses you of one of two things. The landlord is either claiming you did not pay the rent, or they’re claiming you violated the lease.  In New York, it is possible to challenge an eviction on many grounds, but you’ll have to move fast. You’ll need help…

Unless you live in public housing or receive Section 8, it’s generally permissible to sublet your apartment in New York City. However, subletting is governed by several laws you should be aware of.  You Must Request Permission Most leases will not allow you to sublet an apartment without written permission. The law will not allow…