Living in New York can be rewarding, but it isn’t without its challenges, especially when it comes to finding an affordable rental – or a good tenant. For renters who rely on service dogs or emotional support animals (ESAs), navigating the rental market can seem even more complicated. There are a lot of rentals that discourage or forbid pets entirely ..read more

Before you allow virtual strangers to reside in your property, you have a right to learn more about them. However, with modern privacy concerns, tenant screening traps may lay in wait. More people than ever actively protect their privacy rights and take legal action in the face of violations. Compliance with New York screening regulations is crucial to avoid a ..read more

If a tenant makes a complaint, be it a maintenance, noise, safety or health concern, you should be careful in how you approach it. Poorly handling a tenant’s complaint can worsen the situation. Here is what to consider doing: Inform them to make the complaint in writing If your tenant calls to tell you about an issue they are facing ..read more

Landlords can potentially build their personal wealth by accruing equity in residential properties. However, every tenant is theoretically a threat to the property that they own. After a tenant leaves, a landlord could discover significant damage to the rental unit. They then have to make costly repairs before a new tenant can take possession of the property. Landlords in New York can retain some or all of the tenant's security deposit to cover repair costs when necessary. However, a tenant is not responsible for normal wear and tear to a residential unit. How can a landlord prove that propert ..read more

A lease is an agreement between landlords and tenants. Not only does a lease establish the conditions of a tenant’s use of a property but it can also clarify expectations and responsibilities for both landlords and tenants.  If there is a dispute between the landlord and tenant, then a lease may be an important document to resolve the issue. To help ensure a lease is clear, it should include the following details: Names of occupants and landlord The lease should be clear about who the landlord of a property is and who intends to rent the property. The lease may need to clarify how many pe ..read more

As a landlord, you may have experienced issues with a tenant who violated a term in their lease. Sometimes, these disputes are unavoidable, and you can only try your best to resolve the problem amicably. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to avoid preventable disputes. By learning these pointers, you help protect your tenant’s rights and your rights as a landlord. Avoiding disputes with tenants One effective way to reduce issues within your property is to screen tenants thoroughly. Choosing thoughtful and responsible renters may reduce the risk of late payments or noise complaints ..read more

Being a landlord can be a profitable and personally rewarding line of work but it can also be a challenging one. Your tenants can give you some of your most enjoyable moments, but they can also give you some of the most difficult. You’ll have rules in place that you expect your tenants to abide by, but sometimes they will break them. Here are some things to consider when deciding how to handle it: Is there an easy solution? Some mistakes are understandable. Some errors can be corrected. Others can’t, at least not so easily. There is little point in making a big deal out of something that has a ..read more

Tenants in New York have a legal right to safe living spaces provided by landlords. If a tenant finds an issue with an apartment that would make the space uninhabitable, it may be the responsibility of the landlord to make repairs.  Here are a few common issues with apartments that may make it unsafe for a tenant to continue living in them: Rodent and insect infestations A common problem with many apartments is rodent and insect infestations. Rodents and insects can not only damage apartments and furniture but also cause health risks for residents. This issue may be more prevalent if an a ..read more

Pets or companion animals are often a point of contention between those who rent the homes where they live and those who own property that they rent to others. People want to have pets, or they may have grown emotionally attached to the pets that they already have. Landlords may enjoy pets themselves while also recognizing that animals can very easily damage their properties. Chewing, scratching and urinating inside a rental home are all potential sources of property damage. Pets can cause physical damage to the facilities and also make the interior spaces unpleasant for future occupants with ..read more

In New York, some apartments are rent-stabilized and others are known as “free market” apartments. With free market apartments, landlords can decide to charge whatever price they want. They can also increase this price if they’d like to do so, and there’s no limit on how much they can increase it. A landlord could theoretically double the rent. If the apartment is considered rent-stabilized, this does not necessarily mean that the rent has been frozen. It can still increase and these apartments can get more expensive. There are simply limits on the percentage of increase based on the length of ..read more