Relocation assistance nyc law is meant for one moment: the City has ordered your building emptied for safety and you need somewhere to go. Under NYC Administrative Code § 26-301, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) provides relocation assistance nyc services. Since August 14, 2017, you no longer have to apply within 90 days of the vacate order.
What Relocation Assistance NYC Actually Says
Maybe you got a letter citing § 26-301. In most cases, that means a City agency found your building unsafe and issued a vacate order. That could follow a fire, a structural problem, or another dangerous condition. The letter matters because it opens the door to help.
The key part is § 26-301(1)(a)(v). It works together with Chapter 18 of Title 28 of the Rules of the City of New York. Together, they tell HPD to provide relocation assistance nyc services to eligible tenants who choose to use them. The help is optional. You do not have to accept it. However, it is there if you need it.
HPD’s Emergency Housing Services (EHS) unit does this work. It helps households displaced by fires or vacate orders. Typically, that means emergency relocation and help finding housing again. As a result, relocation assistance nyc is less about a cash check and more about a safe place to stay.
| Provision | Exact rule | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides help | HPD provides relocation services to eligible tenants after a City vacate order | Admin. Code § 26-301(1)(a)(v) |
| Detailed rules | HPD’s relocation rules | 28 RCNY Chapter 18 |
| Application deadline | The old 90-day deadline was removed, effective August 14, 2017 | Local Laws 14 and 16 of 2017 |
| Who pays in the end | HPD can seek repayment of relocation costs from the building owner | Admin. Code § 26-305 |
| Rent while displaced (regulated units) | Tenant may apply to DHCR to reduce rent to $1.00 per month or another nominal amount | HPD vacate order guidance |
Who Relocation Assistance NYC Covers (and Who It Does Not)
The main trigger is a vacate order from a City agency. HPD issues some of these orders. The Department of Buildings issues others. If a City agency ordered your building or apartment vacated, you may be eligible for relocation assistance nyc help.
Eligibility is not automatic for everyone in the building. HPD decides who qualifies under its rules. For example, temporary emergency housing is offered only “in some cases.” HPD’s rules set out who qualifies. Since the exact standards can change, confirm your eligibility directly with HPD Emergency Housing Services.
Relocation assistance nyc services are tied to a government order. If your landlord simply asks you to leave, § 26-301 does not come into play by itself. That is a different situation. In that case, talk to a legal-aid office before you move out. Leaving on your own could affect your rights.
What Your Landlord Must Do Under This Law
Your landlord does not run the relocation program. HPD does. However, the owner still pays. Under § 26-305, HPD can seek repayment from the owner for relocation costs it paid. Questions about those charges go to [email protected]. As a result, relocation assistance nyc protects you without passing the bill to you.
The owner also has a duty when the order ends. The owner must notify tenants who left the building of their right to move back in once the order is lifted. That includes tenants HPD placed in temporary housing. Your apartment is not simply gone because you had to leave.
Keep a copy of the vacate order. HPD guidance says regulated tenants file the order with DHCR when asking for the reduced rent. In most cases, the paperwork is simple. Still, keep every notice and every rent receipt.
What You Can Do When It Is Broken
First, get help right away. Call HPD Emergency Housing Services at (212) 863-7660. You can also email [email protected]. Ask whether you qualify for relocation assistance nyc services, including a longer-term stay in an EHS shelter. Write down who you spoke to and when.
Second, protect your apartment. If you are rent stabilized or rent controlled, apply to DHCR for the reduced rent. Then keep paying it. If your landlord does not tell you when the order is lifted, or will not let you back in, act fast. Also, if you get a bill for relocation costs, remember the law lets HPD recover those costs from the owner, not from you.
Third, get a lawyer if things turn hostile. For example, the landlord may try to rent your unit to someone else or start an eviction case. At that point, relocation assistance nyc help alone will not fix it. Contact a local legal-aid office or a tenant attorney right away. Many tenants in New York City can get free legal help, so ask.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a deadline to ask for relocation assistance nyc help?
Not anymore. Local Laws 14 and 16 of 2017 removed the old 90-day deadline, effective August 14, 2017. Still, ask as soon as you can so you are not left without a place to stay.
Do I have to pay for relocation assistance nyc services?
Under § 26-305, HPD can seek repayment of relocation costs from the building owner. If you get a bill or have questions about charges, email [email protected]. Confirm the details with HPD before you pay anything.
Can I lose my apartment if I leave because of a vacate order?
A vacate order does not end your tenancy by itself. The owner must tell you when you can move back. If you are rent regulated, keep paying any reduced rent DHCR sets, and call legal aid if the landlord tries to keep you out.
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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.