New York Tenant Rights — 2026
Tenant Rights in New York
Your Complete Renter's Guide
Renting in New York? Before you sign any lease, you have legal rights — rights your landlord may not volunteer to explain. This guide covers the most important tenant protections under New York law.
Analyze My New York Lease — Free
🔒 Zero Storage⚡ 60 Seconds
New York Landlord-Tenant Law: Quick Reference
Governed by the New York Real Property Law § 220–238 + Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (2019)
| Security Deposit Maximum | 1 month's rent maximum (HSTPA 2019) |
| Deposit Return Timeline | 14 days after move-out with itemized statement |
| Landlord Entry Notice | "Reasonable notice" — typically 24 hours |
| Late Fee Cap | Maximum $50 or 5% of monthly rent (whichever is less) after 5-day grace period |
| Rent Control | Yes — NYC rent stabilization + rent control; affects 1M+ units |
Common Illegal Lease Clauses in New York
1
Security deposit exceeding 1 month's rent
⚖️ Violates: NY RPL § 227-e
2
Late fee before 5-day grace period
⚖️ Violates: NY RPL § 238-a
3
Application fee exceeding $20
⚖️ Violates: NY RPL § 238-a
4
Non-refundable fees of any kind
⚖️ Violates: HSTPA 2019
What to Watch For in a New York Lease
⚠️
Rent-stabilized status — ask before signing
⚠️
Pre-HSTPA leases with old clauses
⚠️
NYC local law compliance (HPD violations)
⚠️
Preferential rent clauses
New York Tenant Resources
🛡️
Know exactly what's in your New York lease before you sign.
LeaseGuard AI analyzes your rental agreement against New York landlord-tenant law in under 60 seconds — flagged clauses, legal explanations, and negotiation scripts.
Analyze My New York Lease — Free🔒 No storage⚖️ New York law database⚡ 60 seconds