Under New York State law, residential evictions and eviction cases in Housing Court are suspended through February 26, 2021, and tenants who have experienced financial hardship or for whom moving from their home would pose a hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those who were facing an eviction proceeding or who received a judgment or warrant of eviction, may not be evicted through May 1, 2021 by providing a completed Hardship Declaration to their landlord.
You can download a Hardship Declaration in English or in Spanish.
Residential tenants may also have protections under an order from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although these protections may prevent a landlord from evicting a tenant, a landlord can still file a proceeding against a tenant in Housing Court and a court can still allow the landlord to take other legal action to collect unpaid rent from the tenant. The Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) Tenant Help Line is available to answer questions about your tenancy and whether the orders or law may apply to you, and to connect you with free legal services through the Human Resources Administration’s Office of Civil Justice. For more information, go to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Tenants page.
If you are facing eviction in Housing Court or a NYCHA administrative proceeding, you may be eligible for free legal services under the City’s Right-to-Counsel law. The Right to Counsel program, also known as Universal Access to Counsel, is now available citywide. To find out if you are eligible for this program, contact the City’s Tenant Helpline. For more information, go to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Tenants page.
If you received an eviction notice before March 16, 2020, your landlord must file a motion and get permission from the housing court to evict you. If you receive a motion like this, or if you receive a warrant of eviction, HRA’s Office of Civil Justice can provide free legal services under the City’s Right-to-Counsel law to help you with your case. You can contact the City’s Tenant Helpline to connect with free legal services. For more information, go to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Tenants page.
If you are facing an eviction case that was filed on or before March 16, 2020 (pre-COVID), the case may proceed only if the Housing Court holds a status or settlement conference with the parties. If you received a notice that your eviction case is scheduled for a conference, HRA’s Office of Civil Justice can provide free legal services under the City’s Right-to-Counsel law to help you with your case. You can contact the City’s Tenant Helpline to connect with free legal services. For more information, go to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Tenants page.
Eviction
You cannot be evicted for nonpayment or any other reason unless the court has issued a Warrant of Eviction. Only a Marshal or Sheriff can carry out a warrant and remove tenants from their home. Landlords cannot lock out tenants.
If you are in an immediate housing crisis or need eviction prevention services, please visit the Eviction Prevention and HomeBase page.
If you have questions about the eviction moratorium, the COVID financial hardship law, or other legal issues, you can contact the City’s Tenant Helpline. The Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) can help you with questions about your tenancy and connect you with free legal assistance through the Human Resources Administration’s Office of Civil Justice. For more information, go to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Tenants page.
Tenant Harassment
If you are a tenant in an apartment in New York City who is being harassed by your landlord, the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants is here to assist. For more information, go to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Tenants page.
Discrimination
Your landlord cannot harass or discriminate against you, kick you out, or ask you to leave your apartment because of fears or stigma around COVID-19, including harassment or discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived race, national origin, disability, or other protected classes.
If this is happening to you, you can report it to the NYC Commission on Human Rights. To learn more, go to the Discrimination page.