New York Landlord-Tenant Laws 2026

Security deposit limited to 1 month rent (effective June 2019, HSTPA). Must be returned within 14 days. Itemized statement required. Must be held in interest-bearing NY bank account.

Month-to-month: landlord must give 30 days (tenancy under 1 year), 60 days (1-2 years), or 90 days (2+ years). Tenant gives 30 days.

Nonpayment: 14-day rent demand notice. Holdover: 30/60/90 day notice depending on tenancy length. Court filing required. NYC has additional tenant protections. Just cause may be required in some jurisdictions.

No statewide statutory cap, but HSTPA limits late fees to $50 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is less, for rent-regulated units. Non-regulated: must be reasonable per lease terms.

Fixed-term ends per lease. Month-to-month: sliding scale notice (30/60/90 days based on tenancy length). Good cause eviction laws in some localities. Strong tenant protections statewide.

Rent stabilized units (NYC) have annual increase limits set by Rent Guidelines Board. Non-regulated units: no cap but must provide proper notice. HSTPA strengthened rent regulation protections.

Strong implied warranty of habitability. Landlord must maintain premises in livable condition per Housing Maintenance Code (NYC) or local codes. Tenant may withhold rent proportional to reduced habitability.

No specific statute on required notice period. Reasonable notice required by courts. Typically 24 hours. Emergency entry without notice. Lease should specify terms.

New York Human Rights Law is among the most protective. Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, military status, source of income, and domestic violence victim status.