Housing conflicts in New York City
New York City Housing Court handles more occupancy disputes than any other court system in the United States. Spread across five borough locations, each with its own procedures and culture, Housing Court is procedurally strict, heavily calendared, and tenant-protective — which means landlords and self-represented litigants lose weeks to paperwork errors that a single attorney review could have prevented.
NYC distinguishes between several types of occupancy proceedings, each with its own statute, notice requirement, and petition form. A nonpayment proceeding under RPAPL § 711(2) requires a 14-day written rent demand before filing, and it's the right path when a tenant on a lease stops paying rent. A holdover proceeding under § 711(1) covers tenants whose lease has ended or who are violating the lease — and requires a Notice of Termination (30, 60, or 90 days depending on the length of tenancy). A licensee holdover under RPAPL § 713(7) is the correct proceeding when someone occupies the space with the owner's permission but without a lease and without paying rent — the required notice is a 10-day Notice to Quit.
Enforcement in New York City is handled by city marshals, not sheriffs. After a Warrant of Eviction is issued, RPAPL § 749 requires the marshal to serve it and then wait a minimum of 14 days before executing. Self-help evictions — changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting utilities without a court order — are illegal in New York and expose landlords to significant liability including tenant counterclaims for damages.
Topics we cover in New York City
Guest overstayed welcome
Guest Overstayed Welcome in New York City
In New York, the line between a houseguest and a legal tenant is not defined by paperwork — it's defined by time and circumstance. If someon…
Read full guide →Roommate won't leave
Roommate Won't Leave in New York City
New York has some of the strongest tenant protections in the country. If your roommate won't leave your NYC apartment, removing them legally…
Read full guide →Squatter removal
How to remove a squatter in New York City: the legal process landlords must follow.
A squatter who has been in a New York City property for 30 days or more has acquired enough occupancy status that NYPD will not remove them …
Read full guide →Security deposit
NYC security deposit rules for landlords: what changed in 2019 and what's required now.
The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 fundamentally changed NYC security deposit rules. The maximum deposit was capped at …
Read full guide →Eviction timeline
How long does an eviction take in New York City? (2026 timeline)
NYC Housing Court is one of the slowest eviction jurisdictions in the United States. An uncontested nonpayment case — where the tenant files…
Read full guide →Eviction cost
How much does an eviction cost in New York City? (2026 breakdown)
The most common question landlords ask before starting an NYC eviction: how much will this actually cost? The short answer depends entirely …
Read full guide →Lease violation
NYC lease violations: the notices you must serve before you can evict.
When a New York City tenant violates their lease — unauthorized sublet, pet in a no-pet building, property damage, illegal activity — the la…
Read full guide →Eviction process
The NYC eviction process: a complete step-by-step guide for 2026.
New York City Housing Court processes more eviction cases than any other court system in the United States — and it is widely recognized as …
Read full guide →Tenant not paying rent
NYC tenant not paying rent: how to start a nonpayment proceeding.
When a New York City tenant stops paying rent, the legal path is specific — a 14-day written rent demand followed by a nonpayment petition i…
Read full guide →Roommate Holdover
NYC roommate holdover: which case you actually have — and why it matters.
In NYC Housing Court, there are two different proceedings for removing a roommate — and filing the wrong one is the single most common reaso…
Read full guide →Local resources
NYC Housing Court — Manhattan
Filings for Manhattan properties
111 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013
NYC Housing Court — Brooklyn
Filings for Brooklyn properties
141 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
NYC Housing Court — Queens
Filings for Queens properties
89-17 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11435
NYC Housing Court — Bronx
Filings for Bronx properties
1118 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10456
NYC Housing Court — Staten Island
Filings for Staten Island properties
927 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10310
NYS Courts Access to Justice Program — DIY Forms
Free forms for small owner petitions, licensee holdovers, roommate holdovers
Legal Aid Society — Civil Practice
Free legal help for income-eligible New Yorkers