Resources

All NYC tenants are entitled to basic rights. The Tenant Bill of Rights is a collaboration between HPD and the Tenant Protection Cabinet. It is not a substitute for advice from a lawyer or legal representation. If you are a tenant seeking support, call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline.

Tenant Bill of Rights - Translations:

NYC Tenant Rights in ASL

Tenant Bill of Rights Digital Toolkit

Tenants can learn about the facts and resources available to them in the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenant's Eviction Prevention Brochure, which was created in partnership with HPD, NYCHA, HDC, HRA, and the office of Civil Justice.

For your convenience, we have translated this brochure into 12 different languages:

On this page:

Apartments/Housing
Housing Application Assistance
Rental Assistance
Utility/Repair Assistance
Report a Housing Complaint
Eviction Prevention and Community Legal Resources for Tenants
Report Tenant Harassment
Tenant Resource Tools
Housing Courts in the Five Boroughs
Resources for Residential Property Owners

Apartment/Housing

New York City Public Housing Authority (NYCHA)
NYCHA Customer Contact Center: 718-707-7771

Housing Connect
Affordable Housing Lottery Helpline: 212-863-7990
Mitchell Lama Inquiries: 212-863-6500

NYC Housing Development Corporation
Phone: 212-227-5500

New York State Division of Homes and Community Renewal (DHCR)
rent.hcr.ny.gov

The New York City Department of Social Services (DSS)
Transitional Housing and Homeless Services

The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD)

Housing for LGBTQ Youth

Housing Application Assistance

Housing Ambassadors Program NYC's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) partners with community-based service providers in New York City who help people prepare and apply for the Housing Connect affordable housing lotteries. Housing Ambassadors can provide information and assistance with the application process.
Learn more about HPD's Housing Ambassadors Program

Rental Assistance

Human Resource Association (HRA) Rental Assistance HRA can help you connect to rental assistance programs like CityFHEPS, and many other programs available through the State and Federal Government.
Phone: 929-221-0043

One-Shot Deal Emergency Assistance The "One Shot Deal" emergency assistance program helps people who can't meet an expense due to an unexpected situation or event.

You may be eligible for an emergency cash grant if it will meet certain special needs. For example:

Back rent would prevent your eviction
Payment is needed to maintain or restore utility service(s)
If you must move, you may be eligible for help with moving expenses, security deposit voucher, broker's fees, or temporary storage for furniture and personal belongings

For more information, please contact HRA's Infoline at 718-557-1399.
Emergency Rental Assistance Grant Flyer

Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and Disabled Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) The NYC Rent Freeze Program, which includes the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) Program and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) Program, helps those eligible stay in affordable housing by freezing their rent.
Phone: 311

SCRIE/DRIE Walk-In Center
66 John Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10038
M-F 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

To get free one-on-one support and learn more about Rent Freeze programs like SCRIE and DRIE, call the Public Engagement Unit's Rent Freeze Hotline and speak to a Specialist at (929) 252-7242.

Utility/Repair Assistance

Energy Assistance - Learn more about the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the Utility Assistance Program (UAP).

Homeowner Repair Loans - HPD offers eligible owners a variety of low-interest loans for moderate to major renovations.

Report a Housing Complaint

Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)

Tenants can report a housing complaint to HPD by calling 311 or using 311 online.
Learn more about HPD's process for complaints and inspections.

Rent Regulated Apartment Complaints

Tenants living in a rent regulated apartment can file the following complaints with DHCR online

Application for a Rent Reduction Based Upon Decreased Service(s) Rent Regulated tenants may file an Application for a Rent Reduction Based Upon Decreased Service(s) to report emergency conditions, lack of heat or hot water, and/or non-emergency defective conditions in their apartment.
Tenant's Complaint of Rent and/or Other Specific Overcharges Tenants in rent regulated apartments may file this complaint when they allege the owner has increased their rent more than the lawfully permitted guidelines, charged excess security and/or illegal fees.
Tenant's Complaint of Owner's Failure to Renew Lease and/or Failure to Furnish a Copy of a Signed Lease Tenants in rent stabilized apartments may file this complaint if the owner has not offered a renewal lease, has changed the terms and/or conditions of the lease, refuses to add a spouse to the lease, or offered an initial lease that is not in accordance with the law.

NYCHA

Public housing residents can call the Customer Contact Center (CCC) at 718-707-7771 to report emergencies and schedule routine maintenance repairs in their apartments and developments. Learn more about NYCHA's CCC.

NYCHA’s Section 8 Program Update - For your convenience, NYCHA created this comprehensive update to outline how Section 8 processes are being managed at this time. Information includes: eligibility interviews, evictions, HQS inspections, Lease Renewals & Contract Changes, and more. Visit NYCHA’s Section 8 Program Update.

Section 8 Program update regarding HQS - This is an update on NYCHA’s Housing Quality Standards (HQS) operation during the state of emergency for COVID-19. NYCHA is continuing to work closely with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to monitor the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and adhere to Executive Orders. Visit NYCHA's Section 8 Program update regarding HQS

NYCHA’s COVID-19 Resource page - For more guidance and critical information for NYCHA Residents. Visit COVID-19 Guidance & Resources for NYCHA Community

Section 8’s Annual and Interim Recertification page - NYCHA Section 8 tenants can also visit NYCHA website to get resources like the Annual and Interim Recertification Checklist and How to Complete an Annual and Interim Recertification on the NYCHA Self Service Portal. Visit Section 8’s Annual and Interim Recertification page

Section 8’s Owner’s page - For Section 8’s Owners, visit NYCHA’s owners page which includes information on their new Owner Incentive Program and other information. Visit NYCHA's Section 8 Owners page

Eviction Prevention and Community Legal Resources for Tenants

NYC Human Resources Administration's (HRA) Office of Civil Justice
Call: 718-557-1379
Email: civiljustice@hra.nyc.gov

Housing Court Answers, Housing Court Hotline
Phone: 212-962-4795

CAMBA Legal Services Inc.
718-287-0100

The Legal Aid Society
212-577-3300

Legal Services New York City
917-661-4500

New York Legal Assistance Group
212-613-5000

The Bronx Defenders
718-838-7878

Neighborhood Association of Inter-Cultural Affairs Inc.
718-538-3344

Mobilization for Justice
212-417-3700

Housing Conservation Coordinators, Inc.
212-541-5996

Report Tenant Harassment

Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force
Phone: 311
Email: THPT@hpd.nyc.gov

The Office of Tenant Advocate (OTA)
Phone: 212-393-2949
Email: TenantAdvocate@buildings.nyc.gov

Rent-Controlled or Rent-Stabilized Apartments
rent.hcr.ny.gov

Commission on Human Rights
Phone: 718-722-3130

Tenant Resource Tools

NYC Tenant Support Unit (TSU) The New York City Tenant Support Unit was created in 2015 to provide assistance to New Yorkers who may be experiencing landlord harassment, are at risk of displacement, or need to make home-related repairs. Please visit the TSU website to see if you are eligible to speak with a Tenant Support Specialist.

Eviction Free NYC Respond to an eviction notice and connect to free legal services.

Checks eligibility for a free attorney through the Right to Counsel legislation passed on August 11, 2017
Provides contact info for legal service providers and housing organizations in your immediate area

Who Owns What? Research your property owner.

Provides up-to-date info on your landlord, housing code violations, evictions, rent stabilized apartments, and more
Links to data from city agencies such as HPD, DOB, ACRIS, DOF, as well as other housing data resources

Housing Court Answers Learn about Housing Court and housing law, rent arrears assistance, and homeless prevention guidance.

Center for NYC Neighborhoods (CNYCN) Use this website to find assistance for mortgage help, foreclosure, scam prevention, and rehabs and retrofits.

Buildings Information System - Tenants can use the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) Buildings Information System to search for general information on a property in the city including recorded complaints and violations, actions, applications, and inspections.

Requesting Your Rent History - Apartment rents are registered annually by building owners with DHCR's Office of Rent Administration. Under law, the rent information provided is confidential and can only be released to the apartment's legal tenant, the building owner, or their authorized representative.

You can access your rent history by using "Rent Info - Submit a Question" . The rent history will be printed and mailed directly to the apartment/building address.

Visit DHCR's website to learn more about how you can request your apartment's rental history. DHCR's Fact Sheet #26 - Guide to Rent Increases for Rent Stabilized Apartments can be reviewed along with a rent registration history of an apartment to assist in determining if the apartment's registration status and the rent being charged are lawful.

Housing Courts in the Five Boroughs

The Bronx
1118 Grand Concourse Bronx, NY, 10456 (at 166th Street)
Phone: 718-466-3025

Brooklyn Kings County
141 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 347-404-9201

Brooklyn Red Hook
88 Visitation Place, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: 718-923-8200

Manhattan Downtown
111 Centre Street, New York, NY, 10013
Phone: 646-386-5500

Manhattan Harlem
170 East 121 Street, New York, NY 10035
Phone: 646-386-5750

Queens
89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY, 11435
Phone: 718-262-7145

Staten Island
927 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY, 10310
Phone: 718-675-8452

Resources for Residential Property Owners

The ABCs of Housing Property owners and tenants have rights and responsibilities to each other. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is one of many City and state agencies that enforce those responsibilities. The ABCs of Housing is designed to help property owners and tenants understand housing rules and regulations, and provide resources.