New York Eviction Laws 2025: Complete Landlord & Tenant Guide
New York has some of the strongest tenant protections in the nation, especially in New York City. Understanding the complex legal requirements is essential for landlords and tenants alike.
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
New York Notice Requirements
New York has varying notice requirements based on tenancy length and location.
- 14-Day Notice: For non-payment of rent (demand for rent)
- 30-Day Notice: For tenancies less than 1 year or month-to-month
- 60-Day Notice: For tenancies of 1-2 years
- 90-Day Notice: For tenancies of 2+ years
- Notice to Cure: 10 days for lease violations in NYC
- Notice to Quit: After cure period expires
- NYC has additional requirements for rent-stabilized units
Good Cause Eviction (2024 Law)
New York's Good Cause Eviction law provides significant tenant protections statewide.
- Applies to most residential tenants (with exemptions)
- Landlords need "good cause" to evict or not renew
- Good cause includes: non-payment, lease violation, nuisance
- Rent increases over 10% or CPI can be challenged
- Exemptions: Owner-occupied 1-3 unit buildings, new construction
- Exemptions: Units over 245% of fair market rent
- Overlaps with existing NYC rent stabilization
New York Eviction Timeline
New York evictions are among the slowest in the nation, often taking months.
- Notice Period: 14-90 days depending on tenancy
- Filing: After notice period expires
- Service: Process server delivers papers
- Court Date: Typically 2-4 weeks after filing
- Trial: May be scheduled months out in busy courts
- NYC Housing Court: Extremely backlogged
- Warrant of Eviction: Issued after judgment
- Marshal/Sheriff: Executes eviction (14-day notice to tenant)
Rent Stabilization (NYC)
New York City has extensive rent stabilization laws affecting over 1 million apartments.
- Applies to buildings with 6+ units built before 1974
- Annual rent increases set by Rent Guidelines Board
- Tenants have right to lease renewal
- Eviction only for specific causes
- Cannot evict for landlord's family use without proper process
- Registration required with DHCR
- Severe penalties for deregulation fraud
New York Tenant Protections
New York tenants have extensive rights that landlords must respect.
- Security Deposit: Limited to 1 month rent
- Return: 14 days with itemized statement
- Interest: Required on deposits in some situations
- Warranty of Habitability: Cannot be waived
- Right to Organize: Tenant associations protected
- Retaliation: Protected from eviction for complaints
- Right to Counsel: Free legal representation in NYC evictions
Frequently Asked Questions
New York evictions are among the slowest in the US. Uncontested cases typically take 3-6 months. Contested cases in NYC Housing Court can take 6-12 months or longer. The backlog has worsened significantly in recent years.
New York's Good Cause Eviction law (effective 2024) requires landlords to have a legitimate reason to evict or refuse to renew a lease. It also limits rent increases and provides tenants with the right to challenge unreasonable increases in court.
Without a written lease, the tenant is typically considered month-to-month. The landlord must still provide proper notice (30-90 days depending on tenancy length) and under Good Cause Eviction, may need a valid reason to terminate.
Filing fees in New York range from $45-$500 depending on the court. Process server costs run $75-150. Attorney fees in NYC typically start at $2,500-5,000 for simple cases. Total costs can easily reach $5,000-15,000 for contested evictions.
NYC provides free legal representation to qualifying tenants facing eviction in Housing Court. Income limits apply (generally up to 200% of federal poverty level). This program has significantly reduced evictions since its implementation.
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