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Learn the basics (8)
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Know when there is a health or safety issue in your home
Your landlord must provide you with a home in good condition. If you want to know whether your apartment is unhealthy or unsafe, this website can help. It discusses NYC's requirements for heat and hot water, carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, lead-based paint, mold, pests, bedbugs, window guards, gas leaks, elevators, illegal basement conversions, and fire safety. Content Detail
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Use HPD Online to find information about your building
HPD Online allows you to look up your building and find out about building complaints, violations, and litigation, property registration data, block and lot information and more. Read More
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Window guards in NYC
Information about the landlord's duty to provide window guards. Read More
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How to combat bed bugs
Fact Sheet on Tenants' Rights in New York City and how to combat bedbugs. Content Detail
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How to complain to the city when you have a health or safety issue in your home
Do you need to file a complaint about a health or safety issue in your home? This resource will instruct you on how to make a complaint. Content Detail
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How to get housing repairs in New York City (video)
Watch this video to learn what steps to take to get your landlord to fix bad conditions in your home. Read More
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How to prepare yourself for court
This guide is for people who already have a legal dispute that is being decided by a court or at an agency hearing and do not have an attorney. Read More
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What to do when your landlord won't make repairs
Tenants often have problems trying to get their landlords to make repairs. This article provides general information about how you can try to get the repairs done. It also shows how you can protect yourself in case you have to go to court. Content Detail
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- Spanish / Español
Getting repairs in your home (8)
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How Can I Get Repairs from My Landlord?
This fact sheet provides information about the different methods that you can use to get your landlord to make repairs. Content Detail
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How to repair your apartment and deduct the cost from your rent
If your landlord refuses to make repairs in your apartment, you can make the repairs yourself and deduct the cost from your rent. Read More
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Form that asks a housing court judge for another court date
This free online program helps you prepare an “Affidavit in Support of an Order to Show Cause” to ask the judge to let you come back to court to continue to resolve your housing case if you need more time. When you finish the program, print it out and give it to the Housing Court Clerk along with copies of any proof you want the judge to look at. Content Detail
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- Spanish / Español
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How to file a complaint for a housing quality problem
Information on how to file a complaint with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Follow the link to find this information in different languages. Content Detail
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How to serve court papers in a lawsuit for repairs or harassment
This resource will tell you how to serve your landlord with papers for a court case about home repairs or harassment. These instructions apply only to a housing case in New York City Housing Court. Read More
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- Spanish / Español
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Letter to your landlord - requesting repairs
It’s important to put your request for repairs or services in writing - even if you have already spoken to your landlord, manager, or super. Read More
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- Spanish / Español
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Taking your landlord to court for repairs
If your landlord won't make repairs to your home, you may have to go to court. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to take your landlord to court for housing repairs. Read More
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- Spanish / Español
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Words you will hear in housing court
Here are some words you should know before going to court. Read More
Heat and hot water (2)
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How to complain to the city when your have heat or hot water problems
Information on how to complain to the city if your landlord is not providing heat or hot water as required by law. Content Detail
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Keep track of your heat and hot water problems with this log
If you are having problems with your heat or hot water, and your landlord is not fixing them, you should keep a record of the problems. This free log will help you track when your heat is out, when you have no hot water, your calls to 311 and more. This log may be used as evidence in a court case. Content Detail
Lead paint (2)
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How to tell if the lead paint in your home is a health risk
An apartment or house in New York City without any lead paint at all can be hard to find. However, not all lead paint poses a serious health risk. This resource has information on how to tell if lead paint is (or could become) dangerous and what the law requires landlords to do to repair lead paint hazards. Click the link to be taken to the resource. Content Detail
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How to check for lead paint when searching for an apartment
Federal law requires landlords to disclose to prospective tenants lead-based paint information on homes and apartments built before 1978. If you are looking at apartment built after 1978, however, the rules are different. This link will take you to more information on what prospective tenants can do to ensure safety from lead-based paint. Content Detail
Violations and code enforcement (2)
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Rensselaer County Code Enforcement Offices
Contains information on Code Enforcement Offices for residents of Rensselaer County. Read More
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Schenectady County Building Inspector's Offices
This piece contains mailing address and phone numbers for the Schenectady County Building Inspector's Offices. Read More
How to get NYCHA to make repairs in your home (4)
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How to get NYCHA to make repairs in your home
This interactive lesson walks you through the process of requesting repairs from NYCHA and if necessary, how to take NYCHA to court for failing to make repairs. Read More
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- Spanish / Español
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How to serve NYCHA via certified mail
This resource explains in detail the process of serving court papers on NYCHA via certified mail, and what is required to prove to the housing court judge that NYCHA was properly served. Read More
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- Spanish / Español
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How to take NYCHA to court for repairs
This interactive lesson walks you through each step in the process of taking NYCHA to court for repairs. It will explain how to start a case against NYCHA, what will happen in housing court, and what to do if NYCHA does not follow through on agreed actions. Read More
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- Spanish / Español
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Who’s who in housing court (NYCHA)
This resource explains who a NYCHA resident may encounter when taking NYCHA to court to demand repairs to their home. Readers will learn the roles of different people in the courtroom and who they can ask for help. Read More
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- Spanish / Español
