how to evict a tenant in nyc without lawyer

by Ruthie Murazik 9 min read

The eviction process is as follows: Proceed to the justice court in the city of the rental property File a Petition and Notice of Petition and include copies of the following: Notice to Quit, the lease/rental agreement, and proof/documentation that supports the petition

How to Evict a Tenant in NYC With No Lease
  1. You must give a 30-Day Notice The tenant must either a). ...
  2. The notice must be provided in writing (i.e. Notice to Quit).
  3. You must let the tenant know they can contest the eviction in housing court.
  4. You must make three "good faith" efforts to hand-deliver the notice.
Jan 13, 2020

Full Answer

Can I evict a tenant without a lease in New York?

In the state of New York, if tenants “hold over,” or stay in the rental unit after the rental term has expired, then the landlord must give tenants notice before evicting them. This can include tenants without a written lease and week-to-week and month-to-month tenants.

What are the eviction procedures for New York City tenants and landlords?

Eviction procedures for New York City tenants and landlords may be different than those outlined below. Landlords in New York can begin the eviction process for several reasons, including: Nonpayment of Rent – Once rent is past due, notice can be served to give the tenant the option to pay rent in order to avoid eviction.

How do I evict a squatter in New York City?

Evicting a Squatter. If the individual occupying the property did not have the permission of the landlord when initially moving in, then in New York, they must be given a 10-day Notice to Quit, after which an owner/landlord may proceed with the eviction process as with any other eviction. (read more).

Can a landlord be sued for forceful eviction in New York?

A landlord could be sued for forceful eviction of a tenant if they skip the proper eviction processes. In the state of New York, tenants can sue their landlord for the following amounts: As another consequence of forceful eviction, the statute allows tenants the right to stay in the property.

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Can a landlord evict you without going to court in NY?

No. The landlord must go to court, must win the case, and then must pay a fee to have a law enforcement officer properly evict you. This is true even if you owe rent, your lease has ended, if you live in a rooming house, or have stayed in a hotel room for at least 30 days.

How much does it cost to evict a tenant in NYC?

The Sheriff's Office handles evictions that involve the enforcement of a court order or warrant. The fee for performing an eviction is $140.

How can I get my tenant out fast?

Depending on how desperate your situation is, you can try one or several of our ways to make a bad tenant leave.About Eviction. The lengthiest and costliest method to get rid of an unwanted tenant is eviction. ... Raise the Rent. ... Negotiate. ... Ask Them to Leave. ... Be Kind & Proactive. ... Offer Them Cash to Leave.

Can a landlord evict you without a court order?

No, your landlord usually cannot evict you without a court order. As long as you haven't abandoned your home, your landlord cannot change the locks, install a deadbolt, take off doors, or do anything to stop you from entering your home.

What to do if tenant refuses to move out?

What can I do if a tenant refuses to move out? If the tenant does not comply with the legal grounds and refuses to move out, an eviction procedure could be started. Valid grounds for moving the court for eviction are the failure to pay rent and refusal to move outpost the end of lease period.

How long can a tenant stay without paying rent in NY?

14 daysEviction for Nonpayment of Rent The notice must state that the tenant has 14 days to pay rent or move out of the rental unit. If the tenant does not pay the rent or move out of the rental unit within the 14 days, the landlord can begin eviction proceedings against the tenant (see N.Y. Real Prop. Acts § 711(2)).

How do I evict a stubborn tenant?

The first step to take in evicting your tenant is to have your lawyer serve him with a notice to quit, if he is already 6 months in arrears of rent or according to your agreement with him. The notice to quit is a statutory requirement for the termination of all forms of periodic tenancies.

How do I get rid of a tenant in NYC?

How to Evict a Tenant in NYC With No LeaseYou must give a 30-Day Notice The tenant must either a). ... The notice must be provided in writing (i.e. Notice to Quit).You must let the tenant know they can contest the eviction in housing court.You must make three "good faith" efforts to hand-deliver the notice.

How much notice does a landlord have to give a tenant to move out?

If your landlord wants to end your periodic tenancy, they usually have to give you 90 days' notice. In some cases, your landlord only has to give you 42 days' notice. They will need to tell you the reason why they're giving you less notice though.

How long does it take to evict someone in NY?

Evicting a tenant in New York can take around one to five months depending on the reason for the eviction. If tenants request an adjournment, the process can take longer (read more). Introduction. New York landlords must have legal reason to evict a tenant.

How much notice does a landlord have to give to move out in NY?

30 days'In New York 5 Page 9 City, 30 days' notice is required, rather than one month. Landlords do not need to explain why the tenancy is being terminated, they only need to provide notice that it is, and that refusal to vacate will lead to eviction proceedings.

Do you have 30 days after eviction notice?

Your landlord must give you a written Eviction Notice, sometimes called a "Notice To Quit." If you do not have a lease, the Notice will tell you that you have either 7 days or 30 days to move out.

Is it hard to evict a tenant in NYC?

Unfortunately, it's not so easy to evict a tenant. The first step is serving the tenant a termination notice, but there are different types of notice. If you want to evict due to the tenant not paying the rent, a 14-Day Demand For Rent Notice must be issued.

How does the eviction process work in NYC?

The eviction process is as follows:Proceed to the justice court in the city of the rental property.File a Petition and Notice of Petition and include copies of the following: Notice to Quit, the lease/rental agreement, and proof/documentation that supports the petition.Pay the court fees.

How much is an eviction attorney?

An eviction lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in handling eviction matters, such as an eviction action. Depending on the jurisdiction and the complexity of the issues involved in your case, an eviction lawyer can cost you anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more.

How much does it cost to evict a tenant in California?

It costs either $240 or $385 to evict someone in California, depending on whether less than $10,000 is owed to the landlord, or more than $10,000 is owed. However, in Riverside County, it will cost $270 or $410, and in San Bernadino County it will cost $255 or $395.

Can a landlord evict you immediately in New York?

Can a landlord evict you immediately in New York? No, a landlord cannot evict you immediately in New York, even if you have been involved in illega...

Can you evict a tenant without a lease in New York?

Can you evict a tenant without a lease in New York? Yes, you can evict a tenant without a lease in New York. Once the lease has expired, you will b...

How much does it cost to evict someone in New York?

How much does it cost to evict someone in New York? Each town, village, and city in New York sets their own fees to evict someone. The cost to evic...

Can you kick someone out of your house in New York?

Can you kick someone out of your house in New York? No, you cannot kick someone out of your house in New York, and must provide 10 days’ written no...

Can a landlord evict someone for no reason in New York?

Can a landlord evict someone for no reason in New York? A New York landlord can evict someone for no reason if the lease has expired and they don’t...

How long can you stay in a rental unit?

The stay can be no longer than one year . To cure a breach – if the eviction was for violation of the lease; the stay can be no longer than 30 days . If, at the end of the 30 day stay, the breach has been corrected, the tenant may remain in the rental unit and will not be evicted. 14 days.

What happens if you stay in a rental unit after the lease term expires?

In the state of New York, if tenants “hold over,” or stay in the rental unit after the rental term has expired, then the landlord must give tenants notice before evicting them. This can include tenants without a written lease and week-to-week and month-to-month tenants.

How long does it take to pay rent if it is past due?

Once rent is past due, the landlord must provide a 14-Day Notice to Pay if the landlord wants to file an eviction action with the court. This notice gives the tenant the option to pay the past due amount in full within 14 days in order to avoid eviction. If the tenant does not pay the rent due by the end of the notice period and remains on ...

What is a writ of execution?

The writ of execution is the tenant’s final notice to leave the rental unit, and gives them the opportunity to remove their belongings before they are forcibly removed from the rental unit.

How long does it take to evict a tenant in New York?

Timeline. Evicting a tenant in New York can take around 1 – 5 months depending on the reason for the eviction. If tenants request an adjournment, the process can take longer ( read more ).

How long does it take to file an eviction notice?

The notice of petition and petition for eviction must be served on the tenant by anyone who is not part of the case 10-17 days prior to the hearing.

How long does it take to respond to a tenant's eviction?

The tenant must respond to the petition within 10 days. A hearing will be set for 3-8 days after the response is received by the court. If there’s no response, the court may rule for the landlord. However, a tenant can pay rent in full any time prior to a hearing and the eviction will be stopped.

How to evict a tenant in NYC?

How to Evict a Tenant With a Lease in NYC. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to evict a tenant. The first step is serving the tenant a termination notice, but there are different types of notice. If you want to evict due to the tenant not paying the rent, a 14-Day Demand For Rent Notice must be issued. For tenants who fail to comply ...

How to evict a tenant who doesn't have a lease?

Here's what you need to know for most tenants who don’t have a lease: 1 You must give a 30-Day Notice The tenant must either a). Owe rent or b). Have been given a month's notice to move out. 2 The notice must be provided in writing (i.e. Notice to Quit). 3 You must let the tenant know they can contest the eviction in housing court. 4 You must make three "good faith" efforts to hand-deliver the notice. After three failed attempts, you're permitted to mail the notice or leave a copy at the residence.

What happens if a tenant doesn't comply with a notice of eviction?

If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, you can then file a legal eviction lawsuit in court. Legal eviction is called a Summary Proceeding, and tenants must be notified of it through someone other than yourself delivering a Notice of Petition and a Petition.

How many attempts to hand deliver eviction notice?

The notice must be provided in writing (i.e. Notice to Quit). You must let the tenant know they can contest the eviction in housing court. You must make three "good faith" efforts to hand-deliver the notice. After three failed attempts, you're permitted to mail the notice or leave a copy at the residence.

When is it necessary to ask someone to move on?

But, as we all know, there are some instances when asking someone to move on is completely necessary: When rent is past due or. When a tenant has seriously violated the terms of the lease agreement. Some tenants can be more trouble than they're worth.

When does a tenant's notice have to end?

For example, if rent is paid through the end of September, your notice period cannot end before September 28th. The notice must provide the tenant a full 30 days.

Can a tenant violate a lease agreement?

Unsurprisingly, there are many potential ways a tenant can violate a lease agreement: Damage to property, excessive disruptions, and illegal activity are just a few of them. Regardless of the reason, the process for eviction remains the same.

What happens if a tenant does not respond to a notice of eviction?

If the tenant does not respond to the notice, the landlord can begin eviction proceedings by filing a Petition with the local City, Village or Town Court, or the Housing Court if the property is in New York City . Most documents will need to be notarized first.

What is the notice required to evict a tenant in New York?

Evicting a tenant in New York requires the landlord to serve a formal notice on the tenant before beginning eviction proceedings . The notice informs the tenant that the landlord is preparing to file for eviction and the reason why they are filing. This can include nonpayment of rent, a breach of a term of the lease agreement, ...

How many days notice for eviction in New York?

There are three (3) notice types in New York: Non-Payment of Rent (14-Day Notice): Also known as a “Demand for Rent”. A landlord uses this when the tenant does not ...

What happens if a landlord refuses to vacate a property?

If the court hands down a judgment in favor of the landlord but the tenant refuses to vacate the property, the landlord must obtain a Judgment and Warrant for Eviction. These documents authorize the Sheriff to remove the tenant forcibly from the property.5

How long does a landlord have to respond to a nonpayment of rent?

A landlord uses this when the tenant does not pay their rent by the due date established in the lease agreement. They have fourteen (14) days to respond to the notice before the landlord can file for eviction.1. Non-Compliance (30-Day Notice): This notice can be used ...

How long can a tenant stay in a house to avoid eviction?

In some instances, a judge gives the tenant a thirty (30) day stay to cure a breach of lease.

How long do you have to give notice of eviction?

The landlord or Sheriff’s office is required to give the tenant fourteen (14) days’ notice of the forced eviction.11 Once that period has expired, if the tenant still has not vacated the property the Sheriff can forcibly remove them and their possessions.

Eviction Reasons

Rent in New York is considered late a day past its due date. The lease/rental agreement may state a longer grace period.

Filing a Complaint

The eviction process can only begin after the issuance of the written notice. The landlord must have allowed enough time to pass before beginning to file for eviction.

Serving the Tenant

A copy of the Notice of Petition and Petition is served to the tenant. It must be served 10-17 days before the hearing.

Asking for Possession

The landlord has to provide a strong argument backed up by solid evidence against the tenant. If the landlord fails to show up to the hearing, the entire case is thrown out.

Getting Possession

Provided that the tenant does not appeal for reconsideration—which is a long and complicated process in the state of New York—a Writ of Execution is issued a few hours to a few days after the hearing.

Showing Evidence

If the tenant disagrees with the eviction request and they reply to the court, it’s important that you keep extremely good records of everything so you can provide proof to the judge and win your case. This part can make or break your entire eviction request in the event of a dispute.

FAQs

No. A landlord could be sued for forceful eviction of a tenant if they skip the proper eviction processes.

Why do landlords use paperless contracts?

The foremost reason why tenants and owners agree to paperless contracts is flexibility and stability. This situation works best for the tenants who are trying out the area or change apartments often. With a lease, landlords have to follow all the rules – demand for notice, legal notice, etc.

How long do you have to give a tenant to quit in New York?

Throwing tenants forcibly out is like self-mortification and in the state of New York, a renter cannot be legally driven out without first having been given a 7-day, or 30-day, notice to quit.

What does "tenant at will" mean?

Tenant-at-will. In connection with eviction, you need to understand the term ‘tenant-at-will’. It simply means a tenant living in a rental property without a lease. Meaning to say if you are evicting a tenant with no lease, you are evicting a tenant-at-will. The rights of these renters are sometimes misunderstood but one thing you must comply ...

What are the responsibilities of a landlord?

Landlords have plenty of responsibilities on their shoulders, like managing staff, look for maintenance, and cope with resident issues, rental property inspection, etc, but the one which tops the list is evicting a tenant. Being a human, no one wants to snatch a roof over someone’s head but life comes up with unexpected challenges, ...

What is cash for keys?

As the name implies, it means offering a flat payment to the tenants in return for your apartment’s keys. Renters who do not want to leave the property often enticed by this option.

What is a squatter in a rental?

A squatter is someone whom you rented your property but he/she is still living in the rental after the rental contract ended. Another word used for squatters is ‘unlawful tenants’ – because they are the ones who are living in your apartment without permission.

Can you evict a tenant in NYC?

According to NYC laws, you can’t evict a tenant – whether with lease or without – for discriminatory reasons. For example, if the renter belongs to a protected class, he/she may sue you in court arguing that you have evicted him/her because of prejudiced reasons.

What to do if you evict a guest?

If you’re a reluctant landlord trying to evict a guest from your house, the first thing you need to do is establish how your state classifies this (now) unwelcome visitor. If he’s considered a tenant or licensee, you as the landlord will need to go through the eviction process.

What happens if a tenant refuses to vacate after eviction?

If your tenant still refuses to vacate the premises after he receives an eviction notice, he is now in violation of a court order and you can call law enforcement to remove him.

How long do you have to give notice to a tenant to vacate?

Serve your tenant with a notice to vacate that states when and why he must vacate; most places require filing a three- to 30-day notice that the tenancy has ended. Be specific, and state what he must do to reinstate his lease (if anything), and by what deadline.

What to do if your tenant breaks the rules?

If you have rules about your guest using recreational substances, spell them out. And if your tenant breaks those rules, give him reasonable time to find a new place. Most jurisdictions don’t like to make people homeless “at the snap of a finger,” Schorr says.

How much does it cost to get evicted?

Eviction can cost $1,000 to $10,000 in legal fees, and sometimes more if the case goes before a jury. “I’ve had one eviction going on for a year and a half. We’ve been fighting like crazy,” Schorr says. Paying for a session or 10 of family counseling will likely cost less money than an eviction.

Can you evict a tenant if they have an unexpired lease?

If your tenant has an unexpired lease, you may still be able to evict him for unpaid rent or for breaking the lease agreement terms.

Can a landlord evict a boarder?

The truth is, most places don’t allow landlords or property managers to instantly evict a boarder, regardless of who he is or what he’s done to deserve eviction, says Zachary D. Schorr, a Los Angeles real estate attorney. If the people you want to evict are considered to be tenants or licensees, Schorr says, a landlord can’t just throw them out ...

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Step 1 – Send Eviction Notice to Tenant

Step 2 – Wait to Hear from The Tenant

Step 3 – File in Court

Step 4 – Serve The Tenant

Step 5 – Appear in Court

  • The landlord and tenant appear in court on the hearing date. It is important to bring copies of all documents that have been filed with the court to the hearing, including a copy of the original eviction notice. Tenants can win in court based on a number of common tenant defenses. In New York, tenants may claim that the landlord is out of complianc...
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Step 6 – Obtain Warrant For Eviction

Step 7 – Repossess The Property

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