Free resources
Renting, credit & your rights
Straight answers for renters and landlords in New York. Everything here is free and open — no account needed.
Your NYC renter rights in 2026
Application-fee caps, the FARE Act, the tenant-blacklist ban, and what a landlord can and cannot ask for.
Read guide → CreditHow renters build credit
Why your rent usually doesn't count — and the ways to make it start counting toward your score.
Read guide → CreditRent reporting, explained
What it is, which credit scores actually use it, and how to decide if it's worth it.
Read guide → LeasingNew York lease templates & required riders
The disclosures and riders a New York lease needs — and how to sign one properly.
Read guide → LeasingRent reporting & the law in New York
What New York and California require of landlords who offer rent reporting — and what is still just proposed.
Read guide → Renter rightsHow to rent an apartment in NYC with no credit history
New to the US, young, or credit-invisible? Here's exactly how to rent in New York without a credit score — and how to prove you're reliable instead.
Read guide → Renter rightsThe FARE Act: who pays the broker fee in NYC now
Since June 2025, New York City tenants generally no longer pay the broker fee on landlord-listed apartments. Here's how the FARE Act works.
Read guide → Renter rightsGuarantor alternatives for NYC renters
No guarantor? Here are the real options — from institutional guarantor services to proving your own reliability — and their trade-offs.
Read guide → CreditBest rent reporting services in 2026 (an honest, NY-focused review)
A straight comparison of rent reporting options — prices, which bureaus, and the honest truth most reviews won't tell you about credit scores.
Read guide → Renter rightsThe NYC renter toolkit: official links every tenant should bookmark
A curated set of official, free NYC and NYS resources — housing agencies, legal aid, credit reports, and how to look up who really owns a building.
Read guide → LeasingThe NYC small-landlord law survival kit (2026)
The New York rules a small landlord must get right in 2026 — fee caps, the FARE Act, the blacklist ban, Fair Chance, Good Cause, and rent reporting — in one place.
Read guide → Renter rightsRenting in NYC with no SSN or US credit history
New to the US? How to rent an apartment in New York without a Social Security number or US credit — and prove you're reliable instead.
Read guide → Renter rightsSource-of-income & voucher rights for NYC renters
It is illegal in NYC to refuse a renter because they use a housing voucher or other lawful income. Know your rights.
Read guide → Renter rightsRent stabilization in NYC, explained
What rent stabilization is, how to tell if your apartment is covered, and the rights it gives you.
Read guide → LeasingHow eviction legally works in NYC (landlord guide)
The lawful nonpayment and holdover process, the required notices, and the illegal shortcuts that can cost a landlord dearly.
Read guide → Renter rightsProof of income for a rental application (NYC)
What counts as proof of income, how much landlords expect, and what to do if you're self-employed or paid in cash.
Read guide → Renter helpLandlord won't return your security deposit? Your NYC rights
New York gives renters strong deposit protections — an itemized return within 14 days, or the landlord can forfeit it. Here's how to get your money back.
Read guide → Renter helpNo heat or hot water? NYC's heat law and what to do
During heat season (Oct 1–May 31), NYC landlords must keep your home warm. Here's the exact law, how to document it, and how to force action fast.
Read guide → Renter helpLocked out by your landlord? Illegal lockouts in NYC
It is illegal — and a crime — for a NYC landlord to change your locks, remove your things, or shut off utilities to force you out. Here's what to do right now.
Read guide → Renter helpLandlord won't make repairs? How to force it (NYC)
The warranty of habitability guarantees a livable home. Here's how to document problems, use 311 and HPD, and take a landlord to housing court.
Read guide → Renter helpLandlord harassment in NYC: your rights and how to fight back
Harassing you to push you out is illegal in NYC. Learn what counts as harassment, how to document it, and where to report it.
Read guide → Renter helpGot an eviction notice? A NYC tenant's next steps
An eviction notice is not an eviction. Here's what the notice means, your right to stay, free legal help, and exactly what to do first.
Read guide → Renter helpCan my landlord raise my rent that much? NYC rent-increase rules
Rent-stabilized, Good Cause, or market-rate — how much your landlord can raise your rent, and the advance notice they must give.
Read guide → Renter helpCharged an illegal broker or application fee? Get it back (NYC)
NYC caps application fees at $20 and the FARE Act shifted broker fees off renters. If you were overcharged, here's how to get a refund.
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