I need help with a Housing Court case. Where can I get help?
Call Housing Court Answers at 212-962-4795. Our Hotline is answered Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you are going to Housing Court, visit our Information Tables. The tables are open 9 a.m. to 12 noon every day the courts are open. Staff will answer your questions or put you in touch with people who can. We help tenants and landlords without lawyers.

I need help paying back rent arrears. Where can I get help?
Call our hotline: 212-962-4795. We will see if you qualify for help. If you qualify, we will refer you to a charitable organization that can assist you. You might also qualify for a loan or a grant to prevent becoming homeless from the city’s Human Resources Administration. Call us to see if you qualify and call the city at 311 to start the process.

Am I eligible for help paying back rent?
It depends. The charities generally require that: 1) You are being sued in housing court for back rent, 2) You can afford your apartment -- that is, your income is sufficient to pay your future rent, and 3) You experienced an emergency or unexpected event that prevented you from paying your rent (for example, a death in the family, medical illness that prevented you from working, a reduction in hours at work, lost job, etc.). Call the Hotline and we can assess your eligibility. But keep in mind: Housing Court Answers does not assist people financially. We can only refer you to a charity that MIGHT be able to help you.

I received a paper from my landlord. What does it mean?
It's hard to tell without actually seeing it. We have copies of some common papers in our fact sheets – you can look at the nonpayment information sheet.  The paper might be a preliminary notice or a notice that you must come to court. You can also take the paper to our Information Table at Housing Court. We can look at it and tell you what it might mean.

How can I get my landlord to make repairs?
Start by putting your landlord on notice that you have problems: Call 311 to complain. Send a letter to your landlord, by certified mail return-receipt-requested, listing the problems and threatening legal action. You can file an action against your landlord at Housing Court called a Housing Part Action (HP Action). Read our information sheet on HP Actions for more about HP Actions. For help filling out the forms, visit our Information Table at Housing Court.

If you live in a rent controlled or rent stabilized apartment, you can also complain to the state's Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). DHCR fact sheets are available here.

I live in public housing, or a co-op or condo, or Section 8 or Mitchell-Lama. Can you help me?
Yes! Our staff is familiar with the laws that cover all sorts of housing in the city. If we don't know the answer to your question, we can find it out. Please call the Hotline or visit the Information Tables.