Legal Aid Society of New York

Where can I go for help?

• To find a lawyer: Lawsuits brought in Housing Court should be taken seriously. Your landlord will probably have the assistance of a lawyer. You should find a lawyer to help you if you can.
• • If you can afford a lawyer, but do not know how to find one, call the Legal Referral Service at (212) 626-7373. They will refer you to a lawyer who will charge a $25.00 consultation fee for the first half-hour. If you decide to hire the lawyer after this consultation, you and the lawyer will work out the fee that you will pay.
  • If you cannot afford a lawyer, contact Law Help call the Legal Aid Society at (212) 577-3300 or Legal Services at (212) 431-7200.
• To get more information on your rights in Housing Court:
• • The City-Wide Task Force on Housing Court has information tables in most Housing Courts, or you can call them at (212) 982-5512 or the Metropolitan Council on Housing at (212) 693-0550.
  • Also, in some of the Housing Courts there is a Resource Center where you can view a video about Housing Court procedures and get written information and forms.
• To get an interpreter: The Clerk or the Judge at the Housing Court will get an interpreter for you.
• To apply for public assistance: Go to your local office of the New York City Department of Social Services ("DSS"). Also, check to see if there is a DSS liaison office in the Housing Court in your borough.
• To report bad housing conditions and heat or hot water complaints: Call the New York City Housing Inspection Unit at (212) 960-4800.
• To organize other tenants in your building: Call the Metropolitan Council on Housing at (212) 693-0550 or the New York State Tenant & Neighborhood Coalition at (212) 695-8922.
• If you are being sexually harassed: Call the Housing Discrimination Clinic of the New York Law School at (212) 431-2176.
• If your landlord is discriminating against you due to your age, race, gender, sexual orientation or any other grounds: Call the New York City Commission on Human Rights at (212) 306-7500 or the New York State Division of Human Rights at (212) 722-2856.
• To bring an HP action: Call the HPD Tenants Assistance Unit at (212) 386-5000 or go to the HP Clerk at the Housing Court.
• To bring a 7A proceeding: Call the Community Action Unit at (212) 240-5096 or the HPD 7A Counseling & Assistance Unit at (212) 386-8834.
• For rent control and rent stabilization tenants: Call the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal at (718) 739-6400. This office hears complaints about rent overcharges, landlord decreases in service, harassment by the landlord, refusal to renew your lease, and other problems.
• For security deposit complaints: Call the New York State Attorney General's Consumer Frauds & Protection Bureau at (212) 416-8000.