Question 1

I got served with eviction papers. What do I do?

Accepted Answer

Don't panic, and don't ignore it. You have the right to answer the petition and appear in court. The first thing you should do is note your court date, then call us immediately. Even if you owe rent, there are often defenses available that can buy you time, reduce what you owe, or result in dismissal.Whatever you do, do not miss your court date. If you don't show up, the landlord can get a default judgment against you.

Question 2

How do I know if my apartment is rent stabilized?

Accepted Answer

In NYC, apartments are generally rent stabilized if they're in a building with 6+ units built before 1974, or in a building that received certain tax benefits (421-a, J-51). Your landlord is required to give you a rent stabilization lease rider.The best way to know for sure is to request your apartment's rent history from the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). We can help you obtain and interpret this.

Question 3

My landlord won't make repairs. What are my options?

Accepted Answer

First, document everything: take photos and videos, and call 311 to have HPD inspect and issue violations. Keep copies of any complaints you've made to your landlord.If your landlord still won't act, you can file an HP Action in Housing Court to compel repairs. The court can order repairs, impose penalties, and you may be entitled to rent abatement for the time you lived with the conditions.Important: Don't just stop paying rent. That can give your landlord grounds to evict you. There's a proper legal process to follow.

Question 4

Can my landlord raise my rent as much as they want?

Accepted Answer

It depends on whether your apartment is rent stabilized. If it is, your landlord can only raise the rent by the percentages set by the NYC Rent Guidelines Board each year. For 2024, that's 2.75% for a 1-year lease and 5.25% for a 2-year lease.If your apartment is NOT rent stabilized, your landlord can raise the rent to any amount—but they must give proper notice (30, 60, or 90 days depending on how long you've lived there).

Question 5

My landlord is harassing me. What can I do?

Accepted Answer

Tenant harassment is illegal in NYC. This includes threats, shutting off utilities, refusing to make repairs as retaliation, repeated frivolous lawsuits, and physical intimidation.You can file a harassment complaint with NYC Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), and you may have a case for damages in court. Document everything and don't engage with threats—let us handle it.

Question 6

How much do you charge?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the complexity of your case. We offer free initial consultations to assess your situation. For many housing court matters, we work on a flat fee or hybrid arrangement. Some cases may qualify for fee-shifting, meaning the other side pays if we win.We believe everyone deserves good legal representation, and we'll always be upfront about costs.

Question 7

What is "Good Cause Eviction" and does it apply to me?

Accepted Answer

Good Cause Eviction is a NYC law that provides certain protections to tenants in non-rent-stabilized apartments. It limits the reasons a landlord can evict you and caps rent increases.However, there are many exemptions (owner-occupied buildings under 10 units, buildings built after 2009, etc.). Whether it applies to you depends on your specific situation—we can help you figure that out.

Question 8

I'm a landlord. Can you help me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We represent landlords in eviction proceedings, lease enforcement, and regulatory compliance. We draft bulletproof lease agreements and help you navigate the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act.We believe in doing things the right way. We won't help you with illegal lockouts or harassment—but we will help you exercise your legal rights efficiently and effectively.

Question 9

How long does an eviction case take?

Accepted Answer

It varies widely. A straightforward nonpayment case might resolve in 1-3 months. A contested holdover case can take 6 months to over a year. Cases that go to trial take longer.Housing court in Brooklyn is extremely backlogged, which often works in tenants' favor—more time to find a solution. For landlords, it means patience and proper procedure are essential.

Question 10

What should I bring to my free consultation?

Accepted Answer

Bring any documents related to your case: your lease, any notices or court papers you've received, correspondence with your landlord, photos of conditions (if relevant), and your rent history if you have it.Don't worry if you don't have everything—we can work with what you have and help you get the rest.

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