- Glossary
- /Housing Court
NYC rental glossary
Housing Court
The NYC court that hears landlord-tenant disputes — evictions, repairs, and warranty-of-habitability claims.
Housing Court is the part of the New York City Civil Court that handles landlord-tenant matters. Landlords bring eviction proceedings there — nonpayment cases for unpaid rent and holdover cases to recover possession — and tenants bring "HP" actions to compel repairs and enforce the warranty of habitability.
Eviction in New York requires a court order; a landlord cannot lawfully lock a tenant out or remove belongings without one. Good Cause Eviction further limits the grounds on which a covered tenant can be removed at all.
For a brokerage, Housing Court mostly surfaces as history — an open case or a pattern of violations on a building is a signal worth knowing before placing a tenant.
Related terms
- Warranty of HabitabilityA non-waivable promise, implied in every NYC residential lease, that the apartment is fit to live in.
- Good Cause EvictionA 2024 New York law that gives many market-rate tenants a right to renew and a check on unreasonable rent increases.
- Multiple DwellingA residence with three or more independent units — the threshold that triggers many NYC building-code and registration duties.
- Rent StabilizationA NYC regulatory system that caps annual rent increases and grants tenants a near-automatic right to renew their lease.
This definition is general information about a New York City rental or rent-regulation concept, not legal advice. The rules change and often turn on facts specific to a building, unit, and tenancy — confirm the current rule and consult a qualified attorney before acting on any individual matter.