Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Tenants

Tenants are still responsible for paying rent. Your landlord can collect rent as scheduled, and if you can pay your rent, you should continue to do so.

Landlords were not allowed to charge fees for late or missed payments during the period of March 20, 2020 to August 20, 2020.

If you are facing a COVID-related hardship, you can use your security deposit as payment and repay the deposit over time.

If you need help paying your rent, you may be eligible for financial assistance.

Rent Assistance

You can learn about New York State’s COVID rental assistance program for eligible low and moderate-income households on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) page. 

One-Time Cash Payment

The One Shot Deal program provides a one-time cash payment to people who can’t meet an expense due to an unexpected situation or event.
To learn how to apply, visit the One Shot Deal page.

Ongoing Cash Assistance

If you need ongoing financial support to pay your rent or meet other expenses, learn about applying for cash assistance on the Public Assistance or Welfare page.

NYCHA Residents

If your hours have been cut at work, or if you have lost your job, you can reduce your rent by completing an Interim Recertification.

Rent for public housing residents will always be 30% of the household income. If you don’t have any income now, your rent will be zero.

Learn about NYCHA's COVID-19 rent hardship policy.

You can request an Interim Recertification to have your rent reduced online, by phone, or by mail.

Online

Visit the NYCHA SelfService Portal.

By Phone

The NYC Rent Freeze Program allows eligible seniors 62 or older and people with disabilities who live in rent regulated apartments and pay more than 30% of their monthly income on rent to freeze their rent and prevent most future increases.

For information about the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE), visit the Rent Freeze Program for Seniors page.

For information about the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE), visit the Rent Freeze Program for Tenants with Disabilities page.

The Landlord-Tenant Mediation Project is a free, confidential program available to help resolve housing-related issues that have arisen because of COVID-19.

Trained, neutral mediators can help tenants and landlords:

• Discuss issues such as unpaid rent, lease concerns, or move outs
• Identify possible solutions
• Create agreements outside of Housing Court

The program is available to everyone, regardless of immigration status.

Mediation might be a good option if:  

• You want to settle the matter rather than go to court
• You and your landlord know each other personally or have been discussing your issues or your situation directly

Mediation may not be a good option if:

• You and your landlord don’t feel safe speaking with each other
• There is a Full Order of Protection in effect between you and your landlord  
• You currently receive rental assistance, such as FHEPS, SOTA, Section 8, or SCRIE/DRIE  
• You live in NYCHA public housing
• You and your landlord have ever been involved in a Housing Court case
• Your apartment needs substantial repairs  

The Tenant Helpline can help determine whether mediation is appropriate for your situation. You can get a referral to a Community Dispute Resolution Center of NYC (CDRC) working for the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Project in your borough.

Online

Visit New York City Tenant Resource Portal.

Contact the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants.

By Phone

Eviction Protections

The NYS COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act (CEEFPA) expired on January 15, 2022. This State law prevented evictions for tenants who submitted a Hardship Declaration. However, many NYC tenants are eligible for other eviction protections.

Other Protections from Eviction

• The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) portal re-opened to accept applications on January 11, 2022. Tenants who file an application for rent assistance with ERAP will have their eviction case stayed (paused) until their application is reviewed and decided by NYS. Additional protections in eviction proceedings for non-payment of rent will apply to tenants whose applications are approved, and landlords who accept ERAP payments are also restricted from evicting for an expired lease or holdover for a year after the first ERAP payment. To learn more and apply go to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) page. 
• Tenants who can prove that they had financial hardship between March 7, 2020 and January 15, 2022 may have a defense in court to eviction for non-payment of rent owed during that period, under the NYS Tenant Safe Harbor Act.

If you are a tenant with a lease or you have been living in your home for at least 30 days, 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, agents of the landlord like the super, and lease-holding roommates cannot lock out tenants. Lockouts are always illegal, even after the CEEFPA eviction moratorium expires.

If you have questions about any letters or notices that you have received related to eviction, you can contact the Tenant Helpline.

Nonpayment Eviction Cases 

Tenants who have received a nonpayment petition must answer within 10 days after they received the Notice of Petition. Failure to answer an eviction petition could lead to a default judgment against a tenant, which can lead to eviction.

If you are in an immediate housing crisis or need eviction prevention services, please visit the Eviction Prevention and HomeBase page. 

Get Help 

If you have questions about eviction protections, legal issues, or resources to pay rent like One Shot Deals, you can contact the City’s Tenant Helpline. The Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) and the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit (PEU) 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. 

You can receive free legal services under the City’s Right-to-Counsel law if you: 

• Are facing eviction in Housing Court or a NYCHA administrative proceeding, or  
• Received an eviction petition, a warrant of eviction, or other Housing Court papers, or 
• Received a notice that your eviction case is scheduled for a conference 

The Right to Counsel program, also known as Universal Access to Counsel, is now available citywide. 

Online

Visit New York City Tenant Resource Portal.

Contact the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants.

By Phone

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. 

Online

Visit New York City Tenant Resource Portal.

Contact the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants.

By Phone

Tenant Harassment

It is illegal for building owners to force tenants to leave their apartments or surrender their rights. 

Tenant harassment can include:

• Not offering leases or lease renewals
• Repeatedly trying to pay you to move out (buyouts)
• Unjustified eviction notices or illegal lockouts
• Threats and intimidation, such as late-night phone calls
• Overcharging for a rent-regulated apartment

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’ (MOPT) Tenant Helpline can provide information, help with benefits, and access to free legal assistance.

Online

Visit New York City Tenant Resource Portal.

Contact the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants.

By Phone

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. 

New York City Housing Court is open for emergency cases, including if you are locked out of your home without a court order, if you need emergency repairs, or if you need critical services like heat or hot water.

You can start an emergency case electronically or over the phone and you can appear in without coming to a court building. Learn more on the Housing Court for Tenants and Landlords page.

Online

Learn more about Housing Court operations during the outbreak.

By Phone