FAQs for Tenants

Pay rent through your Yak Management tenant portal, powered by AppFolio. Once you've activated your account, sign in and choose your payment method:

• eCheck / bank transfer (ACH): Link a checking or savings account and pay directly — usually the lowest- or no-cost option.
• Credit or debit card: Accepted through the portal (card processors may add a service fee).

You can pay the full balance in one click or set up automatic recurring payments so rent is never late. If you haven't received your portal activation link, email us at [email protected] and we'll resend it. Learn more on our tenant resources page.

Submit non-emergency repairs through your tenant portal — it's the fastest way to get help and creates a written record. Here's how:

1. Sign in and select Maintenance or Request Maintenance.
2. Describe the problem clearly (what, where in the unit, how long).
3. Add photos or a short video — this helps us send the right vendor the first time.
4. Give permission to enter and note the best times to reach you.
5. Submit, and you'll get updates as the request is scheduled and resolved.

Requests are prioritized by urgency and dispatched to our trusted, preferred vendors. For a full walkthrough, see How to Submit a Maintenance Request or our maintenance & repairs service.

An emergency is anything that threatens safety or could cause serious damage — no heat or hot water in cold weather, a major water leak or flooding, a gas smell, electrical hazards, or being locked out due to a building system failure. For a gas leak or fire, call 911 first, then notify us.

For building emergencies, contact us right away using the emergency instructions in your lease and tenant portal rather than waiting on a standard request. Yak Management provides immediate emergency response, and we've coordinated multiple simultaneous leaks during hard NYC winter freezes while keeping tenants informed the whole way through.

What's included depends on your specific lease, so your lease is the final word. In many NYC rentals, rent typically covers the apartment itself and often heat and hot water, which owners are legally required to provide. Utilities like electricity, gas for cooking, internet, and cable are frequently billed separately and set up in your own name.

Items such as parking, storage, or laundry may or may not be included. If you're unsure what your rent covers, check your signed lease first, then contact us and we'll confirm in writing.

Rent is due on the date stated in your lease — most commonly the 1st of the month. Your lease may include a grace period and a late fee; under New York law, residential late fees are limited (generally the lower of a set dollar cap or a small percentage of the monthly rent) and can only be charged after the rent is a certain number of days late.

If you're going to be late or are facing a hardship, tell us early. We'd much rather work with you on a solution than let a balance grow. Setting up automatic payments in your tenant portal is the easiest way to avoid late fees entirely.

Under New York's 2019 housing law, your landlord must return your security deposit within 14 days of you moving out, along with an itemized statement of any deductions. Deposits can be used for unpaid rent or for damage beyond normal wear and tear — not for ordinary aging like minor scuffs or faded paint.

To protect your deposit: give proper written notice, leave the unit clean and empty, complete any move-out inspection, and provide a forwarding address. Documenting the apartment's condition with photos on move-out day is your best protection. See our security deposit glossary entry for the essentials.

We respect your right to privacy. Except in a genuine emergency, we provide reasonable advance notice before entering to make a repair, show the unit, or conduct an inspection, and we coordinate timing with you. When you submit a maintenance request, you'll be asked to grant entry permission and list good times — that keeps repairs moving without surprises.

Your landlord's insurance covers the building, not your personal belongings or your liability. A renter's (tenant) policy is inexpensive and covers your furniture, electronics, and clothing against theft, fire, or water damage, plus liability if someone is injured in your unit. Some leases require it. We recommend renter's insurance to every tenant — read Do You Need Renter's Insurance in NYC? to see why it's worth it.

We'll reach out ahead of your lease end date with renewal details. If your apartment is rent-stabilized, your renewal terms and allowable increase are governed by the DHCR and the NYC Rent Guidelines Board — not set arbitrarily — and you're entitled to a proper renewal offer. For market-rate units, we'll confirm the new term and any change in rent in writing. Have questions about your renewal? Just reach out.

New York gives renters strong protections. Key ones include the warranty of habitability (your home must be safe and livable, with working heat and hot water), protection from housing discrimination — including based on lawful source of income like a voucher — and strict rules around deposits, notices, and eviction. You can only be removed through a court process; no landlord may lock you out or shut off utilities. Learn more in NYC Tenant Rights: What Every Renter Should Know and our Fair Housing guide.

During NYC's heat season, October 1 through May 31, owners must maintain minimum indoor temperatures, and hot water at a minimum temperature year-round. If your heat or hot water isn't working, submit an urgent request through your portal or contact us right away — this is a top-priority repair. See the details on our NYC heat & hot water requirements guide.

You'll deal with the people who actually run your building — not a call center. Email us at [email protected], use the message tools in your tenant portal, or visit our contact page. We aim to respond to tenants within 24 hours, and faster for anything urgent. Our office is at 1100 Bedford Avenue in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.