NYC Landlord-Tenant Law
Basement & Cellar Apartments in NYC
Basement and cellar apartments are common in Brooklyn and frequently not legal. The difference that decides it, the risks, and how owners should approach it.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawThe Business Judgment Rule
What a NYC co-op or condo board can decide without a court second-guessing it, where Levandusky protection ends, and how Fletcher v. Dakota changed the risk for individual directors.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawCertification of No Harassment
If your building is on HPD's CONH list, you cannot get a DOB permit for covered work without a certification first — and the covered work is broader than owners expect.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawCity of Yes & Office-to-Residential Conversion
NYC zoning reform and the 467-m conversion incentive changed what some buildings can become. How owners should approach it, and where the real constraints sit.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawCommercial vs. Residential Tenants in NYC
Two tenancies, two bodies of law. How commercial and residential leases, protections, and remedies differ — and what that means in a mixed-use building.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawCondo Liens vs. Co-op Arrears
What a NYC board can actually do when an owner stops paying. The condo common charge lien under RPL 339-z, why a co-op's position is different, and what not to assume.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawDeed Theft
Deed theft targets inherited, vacant and lien-encumbered Brooklyn property. New York made it a crime in July 2024. The warning signs, the risk factors, and what to do.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawDOB Violations vs. HPD Violations
DOB and HPD violations are different systems with different cures. How ECB/OATH violations work, what Class 1 means, and how to actually clear them.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawFISP / Local Law 11: Facade Inspections
Does Local Law 11 apply to your Brooklyn building? A plain-English guide to FISP: the six-story rule, five-year cycles, QEWI reports, and sidewalk sheds.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawThe FARE Act & Broker Fees
Local Law 119 of 2024 shifted the broker fee to whoever hires the broker. What it means for a Brooklyn owner listing a vacancy, the penalties, and where the litigation landed.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawLocal Law 152: Gas Piping Inspections
Local Law 152 requires gas piping inspections every four years by community district. What Brooklyn owners must file, who can inspect, and the deadlines.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawGood Cause Eviction in NYC
New York's Good Cause Eviction law changed how many market-rate tenancies end and renew. What it covers, what's exempt, and what owners must do differently.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawThe Good Guy Guarantee
A limited personal guaranty that ends when the tenant hands back the keys. Why it exists, what it does and does not cover, and the drafting details that decide whether it works.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawHow to Handle Late Rent Payments in NYC
Learn how NYC landlords should handle late rent, from documenting missed payments and serving a 14-day demand to filing a lawful housing court case correctly.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawThe Alternative Enforcement Program
AEP selects the city's most distressed buildings once a year. Owners get four months to discharge — and missing that window is what puts a building on the CONH list.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawHPD Violations: How to Avoid & Resolve Them
An HPD violation on your Brooklyn building? Learn what the A, B, and C hazard classes mean. Get practical context for Brooklyn owners, landlords, and renters.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawLead Paint Compliance for Brooklyn Landlords
A practical guide to lead paint compliance for Brooklyn landlords: Local Law 1 duties, Local Law 31 XRF testing, safe renovation rules, and HPD enforcement.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawLead Paint Disclosure Rules for NYC Landlords
NYC landlords face federal and city lead paint rules, disclosure for pre-1978 units, Local Law 1 duties, and Local Law 31 XRF testing. Here's what you must do.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawLocal Law 55: Indoor Allergens
The Asthma-Free Housing Act requires an annual notice, an annual inspection for mold and pests, and remediation — in every multiple dwelling of three or more units.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawThe ACP-5 Asbestos Filing
Almost any DOB-permitted work in a pre-1987 NYC building needs an ACP-5 from a DEP-certified asbestos investigator first. The owner is responsible, not the contractor.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawBuilding Energy Grades
Buildings over 25,000 sq ft must post an A-to-D energy grade in the lobby by 31 October each year. What the grades mean, what an F signals, and the $1,250 penalty.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawThe 2027 Elevator Deadline
Two retroactive elevator requirements land on 1 January 2027 — single-plunger brakes and door restrictors — and a third was due in 2020. What each one costs a board to fix.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawThe NYC Eviction Process: Step-by-Step
Understand the NYC eviction process step by step, from required notices and housing court filings to hearings, judgments, warrants, and lawful tenant removal.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawNYC Landlord-Tenant Law: The Complete Guide
A plain-English guide to NYC landlord-tenant law, rent stabilization, HPD registration, security deposits, heat rules, Fair Housing, and eviction in Brooklyn.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawThe Annual Parapet Observation
Local Law 126 requires an annual parapet observation on nearly every NYC building fronting the street — including the walk-ups that are exempt from FISP. Due 31 December.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawHow Much Can You Raise Rent in NYC?
How much can a landlord raise rent in NYC? The answer depends on whether your unit is rent stabilized or free-market. Here are the rules, limits in Brooklyn.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawNYC Rent Stabilization: A Guide for Landlords
Understand NYC rent stabilization, including apartment coverage, legal rents, annual increases, renewals, DHCR registration, HSTPA changes, IAIs, and MCIs.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawRestaurant Tenants Upstairs of You
A food tenant is the highest-rent and highest-risk ground-floor use in Brooklyn. Venting, grease, waste, hours and pests — and why the residential tenants above are your problem.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawNYC Security Deposit Rules: What Landlords Must Know
Understand NYC security deposit rules, including the one-month limit, inspections, lawful deductions, recordkeeping, and the 14-day deadline for returns.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawAirbnb & Short-Term Rentals in NYC
Local Law 18 reshaped short-term rentals in New York City. What owners can and cannot do, how registration works, and why most Airbnb plans do not survive it.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawWhen Renovation Triggers Sprinklers
A major alteration in a pre-1968 non-sprinklered residential building can trigger a full-building sprinkler installation. The 75% threshold that catches gut renovations.
NYC Landlord-Tenant LawYellowstone & Commercial Default
What happens to a landlord's default notice when a commercial tenant runs to court — and why the Yellowstone waiver in your older leases is now void by statute.
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