Columbia University School of Law
Need help?
We often receive emails and requests from tenants who are experiencing problems with their landlords and looking for our help. Unfortunately, we cannot directly provide such assistance. We are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice. We do not take on cases directly. We perform our services only under the direct supervision of attorneys at neighborhood organizations. If you are looking for help, please see some of the information below.
Organizations that may provide legal assistance to New York City tenants
The following information is provided for your convenience only. We do not endorse or recommend any of the organizations listed and cannot be responsible for their services. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information below. These organizations may or may not be able to help you with your concern. We encourage you to thoroughly research your options
The West Side SRO Law Project at Goddard-Riverside Community Center, with whom we work, represents people in SROs (single room occupancies) on the West Side of Manhattan above Fourteenth Street, and apartments from 100th to 110th on the the West Side of Manhattan.
For apartments north of 110th, you could try Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, on the East Side, you can try the East Side SRO Law Project (for SRO's), which is run by MFY Legal Services. On the Lower East Side, you can try Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES). For Midtown, contact Housing Conservation Coordinators.
For anywhere in the city, Legal Aid and Legal Services for New York City (LSNY) may be options. These are only some of the organizations in New York. We encourage you to research your options.
Tenant Resources
There are a number of websites where New York government provides information for tenants. We do not recommend or endorse any of these websites, but list them for your reference.
The Attorney General of the State of New York has published a Tenants' Rights Guide containing information on your rights under New York law. You can get a hard copy of this information, as well as other related brochures, at the local office of the Attorney General.
The New York City Commission on Human Rights has information on the right to be free of housing discrimination. See their website.
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development is responsible for enforcing the city's housing laws and regulations. Their website provides information on current violations in your building, as well as other building related information. You can contact HPD by dialing 311 from any phone in New York City. Their website has information on reporting maintenance problems, lack of heat or hot water, owner harassment, and more. You can also learn about tenant rights and responsibilities.
Disclaimer
We are not attorneys and nothing on this website is, or should be construed as, legal advice.