THE

STUDENT
GUIDE TO
RENTING

IN

N Y C
About Know Your City Table of Contents
We are a group of students interested in educating ourselves and our
peers about the implications of gentrification, tenants’ rights, and
affordable housing in New York City. As NYU brings students from
around the world to New York, we wish to learn more about how our 1 Renting: The Basic Steps
role as transient renters impacts the communities in which we are living
and how we can mitigate the effects.
3 How to Rent Consciously
For more info visit www. facebook.com/knowyourcitygroup or email
[email protected].
5 Finding an Apartment
Writers and Contributors Special Thanks
Serena Adlerstein
Robert Clinton
Becky Amato, Urban Democracy Lab
Gianpaolo Baiocchi, Urban Democracy Lab
7 Your Lease
Thomas Collins Ilana Maier, Met Council on Housing
Lauren Holter
Amy Lu
Stephanie Rudolph, The Urban Justice
Center 9 Basic Tenant Rights
Martin McNeish Akina Younge, The Urban Justice Center
Henry Topper
11 Types of Housing
Editors Made Possible By
Serena Adlerstein The Gallatin Student Resource Fund
Robert Clinton
Eva DeBeliso
13 Are you Rent Stabilized?
Lauren Holter
Martin McNeish
Stephanie Rudolph, The Urban Justice Center
14 Your Rent History:
Henry Topper Why It Matters
Graphics
Isabella Kapur
Chloe Rotenberg
17 Problems with Your Landlord
Nicole Schenkman

Design 19 Know Your Neighborhood

Serena Adlerstein
Chloe Rotenberg
27 Resources
Renting: The Basic Steps
Step Six:
Step One: Negotiate if Necessary
Find a Roommate (Recommended)

Step Two:
Start the Search

Step Three:
Find an Apartment

Step Five:
Read Your Lease

Step Seven:
Sign Your Lease
Step Four:
Apply for Apartment

Step Eight:
Get your rent history by calling the Division of Housing and
Community Renewal (DHCR) at 718-739-6400

1 2
 How to Rent Consciously Shed any “gentrifier guilt,” while
There have been several lists published over the last few years about how taking responsibility. You are renting, and trying to
not to be a gentrifier. Odds are that if you are a young, middle to upper get by just like everybody else. It may seem like you and your neighbors
class person moving into a gentrifiying neighborhood (especially if you are have little to nothing in common, but the more you think that, the
white or of a different race than those present in the area), the long-time larger the gap between you will grow. After all, you are all tenants. That
residents will initially view you as a “gentrifer.” Who knows if there is any being said, it may feel like you are living in a neighborhood where you
way truly not to be a gentrifier, but here are some key ideas and actions to are of higher socioeconomic status than many of your neighbors. Think
keep in mind in order to most positively impact your new neighborhood. about what that means and why that is. How can you leverage your
The following steps will also help keep rent prices down throughout New power, whatever it may be, to benefit you and your neighbors? Consider
York so that you can continue to afford to live in the city! volunteering in a local school or at a community organization. Educate
yourself about the processes that may be outpricing and displacing your
Remember you Be friendly, talk neighbors.

are entering a and listen to your Take Political Action. Rents in New York are
community. People neighbors. Actions as astronomically high because government policies have encouraged
have lived in any given area for fast-paced real estate development at the market rate. While it is
years, maybe even generations. simple as smiling at people on the important to talk to your neighbors and respect the cultures that
Acknowledge your presence as a street and saying hello to your already exist within your neighborhood, that is not going to prevent
member of a greater community. neighbors will indicate that you your and their rent from continually rising. If you want to live in an
Learn about your neighborhood’s respect the neighborhood and want affordable New York, more pressure needs to be put on the
history, as well as the social to be a part of it. The more divides government to change their policies, to prevent further luxury
institutions and cultures that are that exist within the community, the developments and to save rent regulated housing. This may seem
already there.Walk around your weaker it will become, making it overwhelming, but there are simple ways to start: Attend your
new neighborhood to see what it easier for those outside the community board meetings, learn
feels like to live there. Identify community to make changes who your local politicians are,
where the stores, landmarks, without the community’s input. and research local community
parks, and libraries are. groups who are already
organizing. Begin by
attending one community
Buy local! Support the event. And it’s a great way to
local economy. Rents are going up meet your neighbors!
around the city and displacement
is a real fear for many. Help local
businesses survive and thrive. There
may not be an organic coffee shop
nearby, but there is probably a great
bodega.
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 Finding an Apartment
Will I use a broker?
Finding an apartment in New York can be a complicated and stressful
process. Here are some basic questions to ask yourself when starting the Using a broker will make your apartment search less stressful, but you
search: will most likely have to pay a broker fee, which may not be worth it if
you only plan on staying for a year or two. Ask your friends if they’ve
used a broker. Lots of people search for apartments each year so use
What neighborhood do I want to be in? your networks to make the process easier on yourself.

The process will be much less overwhelming if you have a

neighborhood in mind. Be sure to learn a bit about the neighborhood
before you move in. Go to the neighborhood and walk around. Make
sure you’ll feel comfortable there. When you move off campus you are
not just moving into a bedroom, you are moving into an established
community. Get to know it! New York neighborhoods have long
histories and are populated by people from diverse cultures.The more
you know about your neighborhood, the more comfortable you’ll be.
Also keep in mind what subway stops are nearby, how long it will take
to get to school, etc.

Do you have a guarantor?

Before signing a lease, most landlords require that you make anywhere
from 20 to 50 times the monthly rent a year. That is a lot of money,
which most students don’t have. Make sure that you have a guarantor
on board, most likely a parent, guardian, or other relative. Make sure
you’re on good terms with your guarantor because he or she is
responsible if you can’t pay your rent. If you can’t get a guarantor,
consider subletting or joining an apartment as a roommate. Good
places to find people looking for subletters and roommates include
“Gypsy Housing” on Facebook, The Listings Project, or Craigslist.

5 6
 Your Lease Think about
There are some basic terms all landlords should include in a lease. Some
of these are mutually beneficial for both landlord and tenant, while others
Utilities.
relieve landlords of certain responsibilities. Here are some key things to Are gas and electricity
keep in mind: included in your rent? Do
you have to pay Con Edison
You have the Make sure you directly? Are you going to pay
right to a aren’t held liable for trash? Water? Make sure
the monthly amount due and
roommate. for preexisting what it covers is explicitly
stated.
Some landlords will expect damage.
everybody living in an apartment
to sign the lease. If three or four Inspect the unit before signing the
people are living together, the lease and ensure that you will not
safest bet is to have lose your security deposit due to
everybody sign. If it is just two pre-existing damage – a missing
people though, it is completely tile, broken blinds, etc. Get any What happens at the end of your
legal for only one person to be
on the lease in a privately owned
oral agreements in writing, and
take photos before you move lease?
building. Everyone has the right your things into the apartment.
to live with one other person. It If you love your place and want to make sure that you have the chance
is best to write up a roommate to renew after the year is up, check to see what your lease says as far as
agreement specifying your length renewal.You can ask your landlord for an automatic renewal clause.
of stay and rent amount,
especially if you are living with If a landlord does not offer you a renewal lease at the end of the term
somebody you don’t know. but also does not send you a notice terminating your lease, you become
a month-to-month tenant automatically. This means that if the landlord
wants you to leave, he/she must give 30 days’ notice.
Negotiate! If you are a rent regulated tenant (see page 12), you are entitled to a
renewal lease every year, whether or not the landlord sends you a new
Read the whole lease. If you don’t lease.
understand something, ask your you feel all conditions are fair. If you
landlord, a parent or guardian, want to paint your walls, have a cat,
or bring it to a Know Your City want a year and half long lease, you
meeting! Make sure you have the power to negotiate before
understand everything and that signing. A lease is a binding contract.
8
 Basic Tenant Rights As a tenant, your rights include:

All public areas of your building must be in “good repair”,

All tenants in both regulated and unregulated apartments are ensured meaning they are safe, sanitary and free of any vermin or trash.
some basic right under New York State law. You are considered a tenant if:
Each unit must have a fire alarm and carbon monoxide detector
installed. The fire alarm must be inside the apartment.
1. You have a valid lease, even if it has
Landlords must provide heat and hot water. There are
expired. minimal heat requirements from October 1st to May 31st and hot
water is required year-round.
2. You have paid your landlord rent, Tenants have the right to privacy. Landlords may enter a unit to
regardless of a lease agreement and have lived inspect or repair with “reasonable notice.” Landlords can have cameras
in the hallways but cannot install a camera that looks into your
in the apartment for 30 days. apartment. In emergencies such as fires or gas leaks, landlords may
enter without prior notice.
3. You have lived in the If you are living in a private building with at least 4 units, you have the
apartment for at least right to request a subletter. A landlord may not unreasonably deny
your request. Note that if you sublet without granted permission from
30 days, even if you your landlord you risk termination of the lease! The law outlines very
have never paid rent specific requirements for requesting a subletter so please review the
regulations well ahead of time if you plan to sublet your apartment for
and you don’t have a the summer or while you study abroad.
lease.*
Tenants have the right to organize and are protected from
retaliation. A landlord cannot legally harass you if you bring complaints
against him or her, although you should consider possible illegal
ramifications such as denial of a renewal lease or not making repairs.

Only a marshal or sheriff with a court order can legally evict you.
A landlord cannot forcibly remove you/put your stuff on the curb. The
*While you technically have the following landlord must commence an eviction case and prevail in order to evict
rights, if you have never paid rent it would you. If you are locked out, you can call the local police precinct and ask
be nearly impossible to defend your case for the “illegal lock out unit” (always carry proof of address and a photo
in housing court. The main protection you ID to show to the officers).You can also file an “illegal lock out case” in
have is against an illegal eviction. housing court.You must be given a 30 day warning and have the right to
9
defend yourself in court.
 Types of Housing Regulated Apartments
Regulations are laws that provide tenants with considerably more rights
The two types of housing it is most common for students to live in fall and protection than market-rate apartments. Rent regulation includes Rent
into two categories: Unregulated Apartments and Regulated Apartments. Stabilized and Rent Controlled apartments. It is nearly impossible to find a
rent controlled apartment, but rent stabilized apartments are still common.
As a stabilized tenant, your rights include:

Unregulated Apartments 1. Tenure rights: After signing the first

lease, tenants can continue to live
in their apartment with or without
An unregulated apartment means that you live
a renewal lease. Tenants cannot be
in market rate housing.You and your landlord
evicted without cause.
agree upon the amount you pay and your
rights entail those listed on page 10. Once your
2. The initial rent price is determined
lease term is over, the landlord can raise the
by the previous tenant’s rent + a
rent as much as he/she wants or elect not to
vacancy increase+ some increase for
renew your lease. If you think your landlord
any improvements the landlord has
has chosen to raise the rent significantly or
done. For more information on how
not renew your lease because of a complaint
rents are calculated, visit the Rent
you made to the City, you can choose to “hold
Guidelines Board website.
over” or stay past your lease term. That choice,
however, could subject you to a housing court
3. Rent increases are regulated by
case. Cases in housing court may make it
the Rent Guidelines Board (RGB).
harder for you to rent in the future because
Currently one-year leases must be
the Court sells the names of tenants who are
renewed with only a 1% increase but
sued to landlords. 1 For more information on
some years, the increase is closer to
Housing Court, visit Housing Court Answers.
6%.

4. Tenants have the right to timely

repairs and superintendent available
24 hours a day.

5. Succession rights: Family members

____ can move into an apartment and
1”LEGALEase: The Use of Tenant Screening Reports and Tenant
Blacklisting,” New York State Bar Association, <http://www.nysba.org/
assume the lease if the current
tenantscreening/>. tenant moves or passes away.
11 12
 Are you Rent Stabilized? Your Rent History: Why it Matters
There is a very large stock of rent-stabilized units throughout the 5
boroughs. Rent Stabilized units may seem to be impossible to find, but in A rent history tells you what rental amount the landlord has registered
2011 rent regulated units made up 47% of New York City’s Total Housing with the state over the last few decades.You will see, for example, what
Stock.1 In fact, you could be living in one already and not know it! Here the landlord says the previous tenant paid for your unit. If the landlord
are some key indicators of what constitutes rent-stabilized apartments: claims to have performed an individual apartment improvements (IAI)
or major capital improvements (MCI), this information may be noted
on your rent history. Remember, the rent history is what the landlord is
· In buildings with 6 or more units telling the state about your rent. He/she could be providing false
· Built between 1947 and 1974 information and it is your job as a tenant to scrutinize your rent history
· In newly-constructed buildings that created rent stabilized and file a complaint if anything seems suspect.
apartments in exchange for tax abatements such as 421(a)
· Once rent surpasses $2500/month in a rent regulated building, the
unit becomes market rate. There are many buildings, therefore, with a
mix of rent regulated and unregulated units. This is not true with
respect to buildings with certain tax abatements such as 421(a) and J-51.

“How do I know if I live in a rent

stabilized apartment?”
The only sure-fire way to find out if you are living in a rent stabilized
apartment is to get your rent history by calling DHCR and asking for
your apartment’s history going back to 1984. It is very easy to get your rent history.
Simply call the Division of Home and
Community Renewal at 718-739-6400.
Ask for the history going back to 1984. If
you don’t ask, you will only get history
going back four years. The history will be
sent to your apartment within about 7 days.
____
1”Rent Stabilization Fact Sheet,” Furman Center for Real Estate and & Urban Policy, < http://furmancenter.org/
files/publications/HVS_Rent_Stabilization_fact_sheet_FINAL_4.pdf>.

13 14
Why is it important to get your
When you get your rent history, you can see for
rent history? yourself what your rent should be. For example, if
the previous tenant was paying $600/month and
As the market rate for apartments soar, landlords are motivated to move
units out of rent stabilization. When a tenant leaves a unit, the landlord
the landlord made an IAI that cost 5,000 dollars
can usually legally raise rents at least 20%. Once a unit is vacant and the total, your rent should be approximately $805/
rent is higher than $2500, it typically comes out of rent stabilization
forever. 7,597 units were deregulated throughout New York City in 2013 month.
alone.1 Landlords will often go to great lengths to remove units from rent
stabilization, offering to buy out rent regulated tenants for dollar amounts
far below what the unit is actually worth. Some landlords use far more
extreme harassment techniques, such as illegally refusing to provide basic If you believe that your rent was illegally raised, you can file a case with
services such as heat and hot water.Those tenants who do not fully the DHCR, the state agency. As complaints filed within four years of an
understand their rights as rent regulated tenants are particularly illegal rent increase are more likely to prevail, it is very important to
vulnerable to illegal harassment or inadequate buyouts. check your rent history as soon as you move into a new apartment. If the
fraudulent rent increase occurred more than four years ago, you have to
prove the landlord committed fraud to win your case. Making a showing
of fraud is significantly more onerous but tenants should try either way! It
is incredibly important to take action if you find yourself in this situation.
Landlords love students and transient renters because they tend to move
If landlords feel they can blatantly break the law, the New York housing
every 2-4 years. Sometimes all landlords need to do is get a new tenant
stock will become increasingly unaffordable for everybody.
into their units every year for 4-6 years to raise the rent above the $2500
threshold. In some cases, landlords do not properly register the rent and
register it at $2500 illegally. They do this assuming that nobody will take
the time to check or challenge them. Many landlords will falsely claim that
1 “Changes to the Rent Stabilized Housing Stock in New York City in 2013,” New York City Rent Guidlines
they performed an IAI and spent thousands of dollars on improvements, Board, 29 May 2014 < http://www.nycrgb.org/downloads/research/pdf_reports/changes2014.pdf>.
thus entitling them to a rent increase of 1/60th their costs.
 Problems with your Landlord
It can seem like a hassle to go through this process.You may be
thinking, “Hey, I’ll only be here a year. I can live without an oven.”
If your landlord has neglected to fix a broken appliance, didn’t turn on your
When you report landlord abuse and negligence,
heat, hasn’t exterminated your bedbugs or has violated any of your tenants’
you not only help yourself, you help your
rights mentioned on page 10, there are two steps to undertake
neighbors.
immediately:
If the landlord is doing this to you, it’s very
Send your landlord a letter listing Report your landlord to 311. likely you’re not the only tenant he’s
your complaint(s) via certified Once you file a complaint with or she’s harassing. While a year
mail and request receipt. 311, the government agency without an oven is no big deal,
Clearly outline what the problem Housing Preservation and consider living without one
entails and that he or she has Development (HPD) should for 30 years. Consider
failed to respond to your investigate your landlord. It is trying to cook for a
previous calls, emails, etc. Use additonally important to report family of five with no
certified mail with receipt so that abusive/negligent landlords to oven. Consider not
your have proof that your help other tenants throughout having hot water
landlord has recieved the the city. The Public Advocate uses every winter. Other
complaint. It is incredibly the data collected via 311 tenants may not
important to keep a paper trail complaints to make a landlord report the landlord
should you need to go to housing watchlist so you can see which because they are
court. buildings have the worst fearful or don’t know
landlords. Note that there is the their rights.You do!
risk that your landlord will not
renew your lease if you are in an
unregulated apartment if you
continually report problems.

For any other issue email [email protected] or call

the Met council on Housing Tenant Help Hotline at 212-979-0611
on Mon, Wed, Fri between the hours of 1:30-5:30.

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Know Your Neighborhood

If you live in a gentrifying neighborhood, chances are you’ve heard

something along the lines of “no one wanted to live in this
neighborhood ten years ago.” As a new resident, it is important to
fully understand how comments like that can impact and reflect upon
the population who has lived in that area before you. Think about why
5 “nobody” wanted to live there, what “nobody” really means in terms
of race and class, and how policies have shaped what the neighborhood
used to look like and how it looks today. Following are brief histories
of just a few areas into which students are moving and are gentrifying
rapidly. Once you learn a bit more about your neighborhood’s history,
6 consider what you can do to respect it. Are there any social or cultural
institutions nearby that you can support? Are most of the businesses
owned by people of color? How can you support them? What
cultural traditions do you see around you when you leave your
apartment? Think twice before complaining about loud church bells or
music playing loudly in a local park. Perhaps spend an afternoon sitting
on your stoop, attend a block party, or volunteer at a local school. As
college students, there may be a difference in power dynamics that
exist between you and your neighbors. How can you use your
education and priveledge to work in solidarity with them, support the
2 community, and prevent displacement? The first step is knowing more
3 about where you live!
1

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1. The East Village & Lower East Side 2. Williamsburg & Greenpoint

Greenpoint is
a neighborhood at
the northernmost
point of Brooklyn. As
it is only served by one
subway line, the G, it is
more quiet and remote than
surrounding neighborhoods.
Like Williamsburg, Greenpoint’s
economy in the past centered around
The East Village and Lower East Side are two its now departed industrial waterfront.
historically linked neighborhoods in Manhattan, bounded by Today the neighborhood is distinguished by its large
14th Street and Canal Street to the north and south, and Bowery Polish community, which has resided there for a number
and the East River to the west and east. Historically, this area of of decades. Since Greenpoint is adjacent to the north
Manhattan had been known as a strong magnet for immigrants, side of Williamsburg, it has experienced the same
particularly Germans, Italians, and Jews. However, by the mid 20th changes as Williamsburg over the past
century, many of these initial LES dwellers moved out to the several years.
suburbs or the outer boroughs, to be replaced by mostly
Dominican and Puerto Rican immigrants. In the 1960s, the
growing migration of artists, musicians, and hippies north of Williamsburg is a neighborhood sitting just across
Houston led to the neighborhood being split and the northern the East River from Manhattan in North Brooklyn.
portion being redubbed the East Village. The East Village Williamsburg and its industrial waterfront were formerly
became home to several of the great cultural and artistic very important economically for the city, but experienced
movements in New York history, as well as the squatter significant decline as the city de-industrialized after WWII. Like
movement. After a period of decline into poverty and crime in many neighborhoods in the city, it has been home to various
the 1970s and early 1980s, the neighborhoods began to stabilize. groups throughout its history, ranging from Germans, Irish, Italians,
By the early 2000s, the neighborhoods gentrified rapidly and are and more recently, Puerto Ricans and Hasidic Jews. Although the
now among the most expensive in the city, although they are still southern portions of the neighborhood maintain much of their
the home of one of the largest clusters of public housing in the historic character, the north side of Williamsburg transformed
city. radically in the past several decades as mostly-white, affluent
transplants moved into the neighborhood, attracted by its cheap rents
and large spaces. A 2005 rezoning of the industrial waterfront allowed for
the construction of high rise condominiums, marking the beginning of a
mostly luxury construction boom that has made the
neighborhood among the most expensive in the city.

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3. Bushwick 4. Crown Heights & Bed-Stuy

Bushwick is a
neighborhood in north
Brooklyn that is populated by a
mix of Hispanic families and a Bedford-Stuyvesant, more
relatively small but increasing number of commonly known as Bed-Stuy, is
young professionals. By the end of WWII, a a large neighborhood in Brooklyn
significant Puerto Rican immigrant population began wedged roughly between Broadway and
to move into the neighborhood, replacing earlier Italian Atlantic Avenue. Like Harlem, Bed-Stuy
and German families. A lengthy period of stagnation in the received a large number of southern black
neighborhood also began at this time, and Bushwick grew to be a migrants during the Great Migration, and it
symbol for urban decay and the larger disinvestment from cities. became a center of black culture in Brooklyn.
This degradation culminated in the blackout of 1977, when the The neighborhood has been known for its strong
neighborhood collapsed into arson, robbery, and looting. communities and stately housing stock. Recently, some
Bushwick grappled with this reputation throughout the 80’s of these brownstones have been selling for a few million
and early 90s, when it remained one of the poorest and dollars, forming a sharp contrast against the poverty that
most dangerous neighborhoods in the city. However, midway is still very common in the area.
through the 1990s, the citywide drop in crime shone light
on Bushwick and conditions began to improve vastly. In
the 2000s, the area began to gentrify as rental
prices in neighboring Williamsburg increased Crown
dramatically. While the neighborhood remains Heights is a
comparatively affordable, the rates of Brooklyn neighborhood
development and rent increases have risen located south of Atlantic
exponentially since 2010, and with Avenue and to the northeast of Prospect
them the chances of displacement Park. Though the neighborhood was a suburb for the
of long-standing populations wealthy in the 19th century, it also became impoverished like
in the neighborhood. much of Brooklyn after WWII. Around this time the black population
grew, but perhaps more distinctly for the neighborhood it became home to many
migrants from the Caribbean. More recently there has been a growing Hasidic
Jewish community. In the 1990s, the neighborhood was plagued by conflict
between these groups that led to riots, but these subsided and the
neighborhood has eased into a more comfortable diversity in the
2000s. Being close to downtown Brooklyn and Prospect Park,
Crown Heights has been experiencing increased
gentrification in the past few years.

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5. Harlem 6. Astoria & Long Island City

Harlem is located in the north of

Manhattan. Originally a Dutch village,
Harlem eventually flourished as a black
cultural and artistic area beginning with the
Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s, and is now
known as the “Black Mecca of the world.” It Astoria is a middle-class neighborhood
was an important center during the Civil Rights in western Queens. Though largely Italian
Movement, as many public figures used Harlem after WWII, the neighborhood began attracting
as a staging ground for empowerment activities. Greek residents and by the mid-1990s, Greeks
Today, Harlem is still mostly black, though as accounted for almost half of the population.
newcomers move in the makeup of the However, Astoria today has become very diverse–over
neighborhood has been diversifying. East 138 different languages are spoken in Queens and the
Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem or El neighborhood is home to many of these speakers. Long
Barrio, is usually maintained as its own distinct Island City lies just to the south of Astoria, and is the
neighborhood. It has had a separate history as one neighborhood of Queens closest to Midtown Manhattan. Much
of the oldest Puerto Rican neighborhoods in the like Williamsburg, Long Island City had an industrial past and
city, but like Harlem, it is also diversifying with newer experienced a rezoning of the waterfront in the early 2000s that
immigrant groups as well as people seeking lower rents. allowed for the construction of large, luxury residential towers
overlooking the East River. This development has attracted a
growing number of wealthier residents to the area, but the
transition has not been as severe as its nearby neighbors in
North Brooklyn.

25 26
Resources

311 Housing Court Answers

311 is NYC’s main source of government information and
non-emergency services.You can call it for everything from the recycling Housing Court Answers is the best place to go for information about
and garbage collection schedule in your neighborhood to more criti- Housing Court for people without lawyers. They provide Information
cal information such as knowing the procedure to combat an unlawful Tables in the city’s Housing Courts and staff a hotline for callers with
eviction. information about housing law, rent arrears assistance, and homeless
prevention guidance. They also conduct trainings for community groups,
unions, elected officials and others on Housing Court procedures,
eviction prevent programs and housing law. Housing Court Answers
Housing Court provides telephone assistance from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through
Thursday.
Housing Court is the branch of the Civil Court of the City of New
York that handles residential and landlord cases. Commercial landlord
Phone: 212-962-4795
and tenant cases are handled on the civil side of the court. The Civil
http://cwtfhc.org/
Court assists people with their everyday legal problems such as helping
landlords collect outstanding rent payments and helping tenants make
repairs.

General Information Landlord-Tenant: 646-386-5700

Landlord Watchlist
General Information Civil and Small Claims: 646-386-5700 The Office of the Public Advocate uses data obtained from the
Department of Housing Preservation and Development (“HPD”), from
constituents and from other sources to compile a watchlist of abusive

Rent Guidelines Board landlords throughout New York City.

The NYC Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) is mandated to establish rent http://landlordwatchlist.com/
adjustments for the approximately one million dwelling units subject to
the Rent Stabilization Law in New York City. The Board holds an annual
series of public meetings and hearings to consider research from staff,
and testimony from owners, tenants, advocacy groups and industry
experts.

http://www.nycrgb.org/

27 28
Tenant Advocacy Organizations
NY State Tenant & Neighborhood Coalition is a grassroots Met Council on Housing (Tenant Help Hotline) is a tenants’ rights
organization that helps tenants build and effectively wield their power to membership organization that fights for a city where everyone has access
preserve at-risk affordable housing and to strengthen tenants’ rights in to safe, decent, affordable housing. They operate a number of
New York. They are a coalition of five advocacy groups that address issues tenant-assistance programs including a tenants’ rights telephone hotline,
relating to gentrification and displacement of low and moderate-income a Help & Answers information page on their website, and a walk-in clinic
people. that is free and open to any New York City Tenant.

Phone: (212) 608-4320 Tenants’ Rights Hotline: (212) 979-0611

Email: [email protected] www.metcouncilonhousing.org
www.tenantsandneighbors.org
Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES) is a neighborhood housing and
North West Bushwick Community Group works to build and sustain preservation organization that has served the Lower East Side of
meaningful relationships that further community collaborations and works Manhattan since 1977. They’re dedicated to tenants’ rights homelessness
towards housing justice for all through education, cross cultural dialogues, prevention, economic development, and community revitalization.
and direct political action in Bushwick.
Tenant Concerns
Email: [email protected] Phone: (212) 533-2541
http://www.nwbcommunity.org/ Organizing & Administrative Offices
Phone: (212) 358-1231
Email: [email protected]
Pratt Area Community Council is a community development http://www.goles.org/
corporation that is involved in a number of community building initiatives
including creating affordable housing, and promoting and supporting the
development of small businesses as a means to sustainable economic
development in central Brooklyn.
These are just a handful of organizations working throughout the city. In order
Phone: (718) 522-2604 to find a tenant union or community group in your own neighborhood, try a
http://pacc.publishpath.com/
quick Google search, visit a Know Your City meeting, or send us an email at
[email protected].
Central Astoria Local Development Coalition is a non-profit
community organization that is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the
Astoria neighborhood. It provides assistance to prevent displacement of
tenants and provide decent housing for low- and middle-income
individuals.

Phone: (718) 728-7820

www.centralastoria.org

29 30
 Community Boards Manhattan CB 11:
East Harlem
Community Board #11 - Office
1664 Park Avenue, Ground Floor
New York, NY 10035
There are a total of 59 Community Boards in the five boroughs. Phone: (212) 831-8929
Community Boards conduct essential work for the city government, http://www.cb11m.org
providing a voice to the various neighborhoods in NYC. Community
Board responsibilities vary, but they help the City government resolve Brooklyn CB 1: Community Board #1 – Office
issues such as land use and zoning; they also advocate for the needs and Williamsburg, Greenpoint 435 Graham Avenue
community concerns of their own neighborhoods. They do not have the Brooklyn, NY 11211
ability to order the City agency to perform tasks; however, Community Phone: (718) 389-0009
Boards influence City government to resolve the problems they address. http://www.nyc.gov/brooklyncb1

Anyone can attend a Community Board meeting! Community Boards Brooklyn CB 3: Community Board #3 - Office
hold general Full Board meetings the third week of each month to Bedford-Stuyvesant, Stuyvesant 1360 Fulton Street
discuss issues and updates spearheaded by Community Board Heights, and Ocean Hill Brooklyn, NY 11216
Subcommittees. Subcommittees meet once a month to discuss items on Phone: 718-622-6601
their own agendas. Each Community Board usually releases the agenda http://www.cb3brooklyn.org
for the monthly meeting at least one week before the beginning of each
month. Brooklyn CB 4: Community Board #4 – Office
Bushwick 1420 Bushwick Avenue, Suite 370
Here are some of the community boards for neighborhoods students Brooklyn, NY 11207
commonly live in. If your community board isn’t listed here, find it at Phone: (718) 628-8400
www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb.shtml http://www.nyc.gov/brooklyncb4

Manhattan CB 2: Community Board #2 – Office Brooklyn CB 8: Community Board #8 – Office

Greenwich Village, SoHo, NoHo, 3 Washington Square Village, #1A Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, 1291 St. Marks Avenue
Little Italy, Chinatown, Hudson New York, NY 10012 and Weeksville Brooklyn, NY 11213
Square, and Gansevoort Market Phone: (212) 979-2272 Phone: (718) 467-5574
http://www.cb2manhattan.org http://www.brooklyncb8.org

Manhattan CB 3: Community Board #3 – Office Queens CB 1: Community Board #1 – Office

Alphabet City, East Village, Lower 59 East 4th Street Astoria, Old Astoria, Long Island 45-02 Ditmars Boulevard LL Suite
East Side, Chinatown, and Two New York, NY 10003 City, Queensbridge, Ditmars, Ra- 1025 Astoria, NY 11105
Bridges Phone: (212) 533-5300 venswood, Steinway, Garden Bay, Phone: (718) 626-1021
http://www.cb3manhattan.org and Woodside http://www.nyc.gov/html/qnscb1

Manhattan CB 10: Community Board #10 – Office Queens CB 5: Community Board #5 – Office
Central Harlem 215 W. 125th Street, 4th Floor Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, 61-23 Myrtle Avenue
New York, NY 10027 Ridgewood Glendale, NY 11385
Phone: (212) 749-3105 Phone: (718) 366-1834
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mancb10/ Email: [email protected]