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Laws that impact the rental market, landlords, and tenants are constantly being decided in states. Make sure you know what’s on your ballot – find New York voting information here.
When it comes to New York rental laws, there are a few specifics landlords need to know:
New York landlords can charge up to $20 for each application, and the fee must be waived if the applicant uses the portable screening report option.
The State of New York has no added laws or restrictions around the collection of criminal background checks. Adherence to general federal law is required. To avoid the perception of discrimination, make sure your screening criteria is stated and is consistent and equal for all groups of people.
The following disclosures are required in New York City, but not the State of New York:
The following disclosures are required in New York City AND in the State of New York:
Build a State of New York or a New York City lease agreement with all of the required disclosures in less than 15 minutes.
New York landlords must respond to a tenant’s request for repairs within 10 days, then complete the repairs in a “reasonable time period” depending on the severity of the repair.
There are three sections to a residential lease agreement. The first section outlines the custom details of the contract, such as who’s involved and for what address. Here’s an example New York lease agreement listing details found in Section 1:
Below are answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions when it comes to landlord-tenant laws in New York:
In New York, there is not an explicit number of days in the law that says how long a landlord has to make repairs. It’s considered the standard for landlords to fix something with a “reasonable” amount of time. If landlords fail to make repairs within a reasonable amount of time, renters can do a few things such as withholding rent, or eventually go to court and sue them. However, landlords have to follow the warranty of habitability which means the rental has to be safe and livable – for example, if the heat was broken or the water turned off the landlord needs to fix these issues so the unit remains habitable.
New York law does not specifically state landlords can require renter’s insurance, but it does say property owners are required to have insurance on the house or building, but that doesn’t cover a renter’s personal property. Because of this, many will require in their lease agreements that tenants get renter’s insurance.
Landlords need to give reasonable notice before entering a property – usually around 24 hours. They should also only enter a reasonable time like between working hours to maintain a tenant’s privacy.
TurboTenant has utilized many municipal sources along with official state statutes in order to compile this information to the best of our ability. However, local laws are always in flux and landlords and tenants alike should do their due diligence and consult legal help when it’s needed. We hope the following list can serve as a valuable resource and allow you to succeed as a tenant or landlord in New York. Be sure to take proper precautions when it comes to finding the top candidates for your unit by utilizing our online rental application and tenant screening services.
Disclaimer: TurboTenant, Inc does not provide legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. All users are advised to check all applicable local, state, and federal laws, and consult legal counsel should questions arise.
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