nyc tenant harassment law protects renters from landlords who try to push them out of their homes. If a letter or court paper you received cites nyc tenant harassment law, look for two sections: NYC Administrative Code 27-2004(a)(48), which defines harassment, and 27-2005(d), which bans it and lets you go to Housing Court.
What NYC Tenant Harassment Law Actually Says
The heart of nyc tenant harassment law is one definition. According to HPD’s tenant harassment page, harassment is “any act or omission by or on behalf of an owner that causes or is intended to cause” a lawful occupant to leave. It also covers pushing a tenant to “surrender or waive any occupancy rights.”
Notice two key words: “act” and “omission.” A landlord does not have to do something to harass you. Refusing to fix a dangerous condition can count too. In addition, the definition covers people acting “on behalf of” the owner. As a result, a super, a manager, or a hired agent can’t do the dirty work for the landlord and get around the rule.
The law also gives concrete examples. Here is how the main pieces of nyc tenant harassment law line up:
| Provision | Exact rule | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Definition of harassment | Any act or omission by or for an owner that causes, or is meant to cause, a lawful occupant to leave or give up rights | NYC Admin. Code 27-2004(a)(48) |
| Force or threats | Using force or making threats against a lawful occupant | 27-2004(a)(48) |
| Essential services | Repeated interruptions of essential services such as heat, water, gas, or electric | 27-2004(a)(48) |
| Baseless court cases | Frequently filing court actions against a tenant without a good legal basis | 27-2004(a)(48) |
| Locks and belongings | Removing a tenant’s possessions, or removing or tampering with doors or locks | 27-2004(a)(48) |
| Ban on harassment | Owners must not harass tenants; tenants can bring a harassment claim in Housing Court | 27-2005(d) |
| Court penalty | The court can order the owner to stop and impose a civil penalty per unit; confirm the current dollar amount with Housing Court or HPD | Housing Maintenance Code |
Who NYC Tenant Harassment Law Covers (and Who It Does Not)
In most cases, nyc tenant harassment law protects “any person lawfully entitled to occupancy of a dwelling unit.” That wording is broad. It typically includes rent-stabilized tenants, market-rate tenants, and people with a lease or a legal right to stay. The rule sits in the NYC Housing Maintenance Code. As a result, it covers housing within the five boroughs of New York City.
However, the law does not cover every bad landlord behavior. Normal disputes, like one late repair or a fair lease renewal offer, may not rise to harassment. The key is whether the act or omission causes, or aims to cause, you to leave. For example, a single slow repair is usually a repair issue. Repeated heat shutoffs during a buyout push look very different.
Some buildings face extra rules. The city runs a Certification of No Harassment (CONH) program. Under it, owners of certain buildings must prove they did not harass tenants before getting permits to demolish or change the building’s use. This covers SRO buildings citywide, buildings in Special Districts, and buildings on a pilot list. Nyc tenant harassment law and CONH work together to make harassment a bad business bet.
What Your Landlord Must Do Under This Law
Under nyc tenant harassment law, your landlord’s main duty is simple: do not try to force you out. That means no threats and no lockouts. It also means no cutting off heat, water, gas, or electric to make life miserable. Your landlord also cannot remove your things or change your locks without a court order.
In addition, the landlord must keep up repairs. HPD says an owner’s failure to correct dangerous conditions may be harassment. So can frequent disruptions of water, heat, gas, or electric service. For example, ignoring a broken lock for months while offering you cash to leave is a red flag. Nyc tenant harassment law treats these patterns as serious.
What You Can Do When It Is Broken
First, write everything down. Keep dates, photos, texts, letters, and names of witnesses. Next, report it. The HPD harassment reporting page says to call 311 if an owner withholds services or repairs to push you out. HPD’s Anti-Harassment Unit can investigate cases involving dangerous conditions or utility shutoffs. Under nyc tenant harassment law, those complaints create an official record.
Second, you can go to court yourself. Visit the Clerk’s Office at Housing Court to start an HP action. You do not need a lawyer to file. You can ask the judge to order the owner to stop harassing you. You can also ask for a civil penalty against the owner. Many tenants use nyc tenant harassment law this way to get repairs and relief.
Third, get free help if you qualify. HPD says free legal help is available through 311 for low-income tenants facing harassment. If you face an active eviction case, a lockout, or a utility shutoff, contact a local legal-aid office or tenant attorney right away. Outcomes vary, so check with the court or a lawyer about your facts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a buyout offer harassment?
A single polite offer is not always harassment. However, nyc tenant harassment law may apply if the offers come with threats, pressure, or service cutoffs meant to make you leave. Keep records of every contact and report patterns to 311.
Can I be evicted for reporting harassment?
Your landlord cannot legally lock you out or remove your things without a court order. Filing baseless court cases against you can itself count as harassment under nyc tenant harassment law. If you get court papers, contact legal aid right away.
Do I need a lawyer to file an HP action?
No. HPD says you can start an HP action at the Housing Court Clerk’s Office without a lawyer. Still, free legal help through 311 may be available if you are low-income, and a lawyer can help build your case.
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Sources & How to Verify
The rules on this page are drawn from official government and legal-aid sources. Tenant law changes, so always confirm the exact rule with your state’s statute or a local legal-aid office.
- HUD: hud.gov — federal renter protections and fair housing
- Legal Services Corporation: lsc.gov — find free legal aid in your state
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex — plain-English legal definitions
- Your state statute & court self-help portal: search “[your state] landlord tenant act” and “[your state] court self-help eviction” for the exact law and forms
Content last reviewed September 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
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Informational only — not legal advice. Tenant Rights Info is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, and this page does not provide legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes over time, so always verify the exact rule with your state’s statute, your local court’s self-help portal, or a legal-aid office. For urgent situations like an active eviction, contact a local legal-aid office or a licensed tenant attorney in your state right away.