Renters' rights in New York City

• Security deposit: at most one month's rent. For apartments that are not rent-regulated, the landlord must return it within 14 days after you move out, with an itemized statement of any deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear; otherwise the full deposit must be returned.
• Application fee: at most $20 for a background and credit check.
• Broker fees: a broker working for the landlord may not charge you (FARE Act, since 11 June 2025).
• Late fees: rent is only late after five days, and a late fee may not exceed $50 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is less.
• Roommates: a landlord may not limit occupancy to the tenant named on the lease; with one named tenant you may share with immediate family, one additional occupant and that person's dependent children, and you must tell the landlord the occupant's name within 30 days.
• Habitability: you have the right to a livable, safe and sanitary home, and a lease clause waiving it is void.
• Retaliation: a landlord may not retaliate against you for a good-faith complaint or for joining a tenant association.

From 1 October to 31 May (heat season), when it is below 55°F outside, your apartment must be at least 68°F between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., and at least 62°F between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. regardless of the outdoor temperature. Hot water at a constant minimum of 120°F is required all year.

Tell your landlord or super first. If nothing happens, call 311 (or use 311 online); the City's housing agency HPD can inspect and issue violations. You can also complain if your building's super or janitor is not available or the emergency contact is not posted.

Rent-stabilized tenants have the right to renew their lease, and increases on renewal are capped by the Rent Guidelines Board. For one-year and two-year leases starting between 1 October 2026 and 30 September 2027, the Board set the increase at 0% (Order 58, adopted 25 June 2026). For leases that started in the previous year, the increases were 3% (one year) and 4.5% (two years).

You must receive a fully signed copy of your lease within 30 days and a rent stabilization rider explaining how the rent was calculated. To check whether your apartment is stabilized, request its rent history from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) online through the Ask HCR portal, by phone at 833-499-0343 or by email; if the unit is stabilized, the history is mailed to the apartment.

For apartments that are not rent-regulated, a landlord who raises the rent by more than 5% or does not renew your lease must give written notice: 30 days if you have lived there under a year, 60 days for one to two years, 90 days for two years or more.

Since April 2024, many market-rate tenants in New York City are also covered by Good Cause Eviction. Covered tenants can generally only be evicted or refused a renewal for a reason listed in the law, such as non-payment or a serious lease violation, and a rent increase above the local rent standard is presumed unreasonable. As of 4 May 2026, the standard is 8.38% (inflation of 3.38% plus 5%, capped at 10%). The law does not cover, among others, landlords owning 10 or fewer units, homes built on or after 1 January 2009, condos and co-ops, and apartments renting above 245% of Fair Market Rent. Your landlord must tell you in writing whether the law applies when offering or renewing a lease.

Only a court can order an eviction, and only a sheriff, marshal or constable may carry it out. A landlord may not lock you out, remove your belongings or cut off essential services; call 911 if you are illegally locked out.

If you receive court papers, act immediately. New York City's Right to Counsel program gives tenants facing eviction in Housing Court free legal help in every ZIP code, regardless of immigration status: say "I would like an attorney" at your first court appearance, call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline, or call Housing Court Answers (718-557-1379 or 212-962-4795, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Landlords in New York City may not discriminate against you because of characteristics such as race, national origin, disability, age, immigration status or lawful source of income, including rental subsidies such as Section 8. You can report discrimination to the NYC Commission on Human Rights (212-416-0197).