Landlord-tenant law

New York Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security deposit limits, eviction notice periods, lease termination requirements, and late fee rules for New York.

Not legal advice. Current as of May 2026. Verify with a local attorney before any compliance decision.

Security Deposit Max

1 month's rent (Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 applies to all units, not just rent-stabilized)

N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-103; N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 227-e

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Deposit Return Deadline

14 days

N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108(e)

Non-Payment Eviction Notice

14-day notice to pay or quit

N.Y. Real Prop. Acts. Law § 711(2)

Month-to-Month Termination

30 days (for tenancy ≥ 1 month but < 1 year); 60 days (tenancy 1–2 years); 90 days (tenancy > 2 years)

N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 232-a (NYC); § 232-b (upstate); HSTPA amendments

Late Fee Cap

Lesser of $50 or 5% of monthly rent

N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a

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Grace Period

5 days

N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a(2)

New York specific notes

New York has the most complex landlord-tenant framework in the country. The 2019 HSTPA fundamentally changed NY law: 1-month deposit cap now applies statewide (not just rent-stabilized), deposit must be returned within 14 days, and tiered termination notice now required. NYC is subject to separate rent-stabilization and rent-control rules administered by DHCR — these are vastly different from upstate rules. For NYC properties, consult the NYC Rent Guidelines Board and DHCR separately. Good Cause Eviction Law (§ 5a, 2024) now extends just-cause protections to many non-stabilized NYC units.

FAQ

Common New York landlord questions

What is the maximum security deposit in New York?+

1 month's rent (Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019 applies to all units, not just rent-stabilized). Governed by N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-103; N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 227-e. Deposit must be returned within 14 days after the lease ends.

What notice is required to evict a tenant in New York for non-payment of rent?+

14-day notice to pay or quit. Per N.Y. Real Prop. Acts. Law § 711(2). This is the notice period before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit.

How much notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in New York?+

30 days (for tenancy ≥ 1 month but < 1 year); 60 days (tenancy 1–2 years); 90 days (tenancy > 2 years). Per N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 232-a (NYC); § 232-b (upstate); HSTPA amendments. This applies to no-cause terminations of month-to-month leases.

Are late fees regulated in New York?+

Lesser of $50 or 5% of monthly rent. Per N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a. Grace period: 5 days. Even where no statutory cap exists, late fees must be reasonable and clearly disclosed in the lease.

References

Authoritative sources for New York

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Deposit Limits — All 50

Side-by-side max deposit and return deadlines.

Eviction Notice — All 50

Notice periods for non-payment and termination.

Late Fee Laws — All 50

Caps and grace periods.

New York Landlord-Tenant Laws

Common New York landlord questions

Authoritative sources for New York

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