New York, NY Rental Property Rules: Tenant Anti-Harassment (2026)
Key Facts
- Harassment defined
- Admin. Code § 27-2004(a)(48)
- Owner prohibition
- § 27-2005(d) bars harassing tenants
- Enforcement agency
- NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation & Development
- Tenant remedy
- Claim or defense in Housing Court
- Scope
- Citywide, all five boroughs
Summary
New York City's Housing Maintenance Code bans landlords from pressuring tenants out through threats, service cutoffs, frivolous lawsuits, lockouts, or repeated buyout offers, with tenants able to pursue harassment claims in Housing Court.
the term "harassment" shall mean any act or omission by or on behalf of an owner that (i) causes or is intended to cause any person lawfully entitled to occupancy of a dwelling unit to vacate such dwelling unit or to surrender or waive any rights in relation to such occupancy, and (ii) includes one or more of the following acts or omissions ... a. using force against, or making express or implied threats that force will be used against, any person lawfully entitled to occupancy of such dwelling unit;
Full Breakdown
Admin. Code § 27-2004(a)(48) defines landlord "harassment" broadly: any act or omission meant to force a tenant to vacate or give up occupancy rights, including using or threatening force, cutting off heat, hot water or other essential services, filing repeated baseless eviction cases, changing locks without a key, or repeatedly pushing buyout offers. Section 27-2005(d) separately makes it illegal for any owner to harass tenants. HPD investigates and issues violations, and tenants can raise harassment as a claim or counterclaim in Housing Court, which can order restoration to the unit.
Violations & Fines
HPD issues a Housing Maintenance Code violation and civil penalty; tenants may also sue in Housing Court for harassment or unlawful eviction and seek restoration to the unit plus damages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is landlord harassment illegal in NYC?
What can a tenant do about landlord harassment?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New York
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