For those who live in a rent-regulated apartment – one that is either rent-controlled or rent-stabilized – in New York, they may have important rights not available to tenants in unregulated, market-rate buildings. It is in one’s best interest to be aware of those rights and protect them. For those who own a building with rent-regulated apartments, it is also important to have experienced legal advice before taking any steps toward deregulation of the apartment or eviction of a tenant.
There are over a million rent-regulated apartments in New York City. In addition to being protected from rent increases, tenants in these apartments have the right to maintain and renew their tenancy. Tenants can only be evicted in limited situations. For individuals who live in a rent-regulated apartment, certain qualifying family members also have succession rights in the lease.
Landlords of rent-regulated apartments need to be careful not to violate these legal protections. Nonetheless, landlords have the right to evict a tenant who is breaching the lease or using the apartment improperly. With knowledgeable legal advice landlords can comply with the law and enforce their rights as property owners.
The law governing rent-regulated apartments in New York is convoluted and can be very confusing for laypersons. Our attorneys have extensive experience in this complex area of law. We represent both tenants and landlords in disputes involving rent-regulated properties, including buyouts, lease disputes, issues relating to subletting, holdover action, non-payment rent proceedings and nuisance and lease violation cases. For more information on how we can help, please visit our New York Lawyers for Rent Stabilization/Rent Control web page.