As a tenant in New York City, it is crucial for you to know your rights. You have rights to repairs, privacy and proper notice of an eviction. If you do not know your protections, you might not know how to resolve a dispute between you and your landlord.
But if you know your rights, you can figure out when something is going wrong and hire a lawyer if necessary. Below is a look at some of the most crucial rights you have as a tenant in the city.
1. Repairs
According to Eric T. Schneiderman, the Attorney General of New York, you have the right to an apartment that is safe, livable and sanitary. This includes a duty of your landlord to keep your apartment in good shape. Your landlord must maintain utility systems and appliances. Landlords must also make any repairs in a timely manner.
2. Privacy
You also have the right to privacy. However, your landlord may be able to enter your apartment with your consent to provide services, repairs or other actions described in the lease. Your landlord must give you prior notice. If there is an emergency, such as a water leak or fire, your landlord has the right to enter your apartment without notice. Otherwise, your landlord should not enter your apartment at any time without permission.
3. Notice of eviction
Your landlord cannot simply change the locks on your apartment without giving you a new key. In order to evict you, your landlord must have a warrant and properly notify you. If your landlord locks you out of your apartment, it is unlawful eviction and you may be able to go to court.
Now that you know about these three essential rights, you can be confident as you stay in your apartment. If you ever have any issues with your landlord, you might want to talk to an attorney for guidance.
