Free New York lease review checked against state law.
Upload your New York apartment, house or room lease. We compare every clause with 22 New York laws, plus local rules where your city has them, and tie each flag to the statute behind it.
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In about two minutes you’ll see how many clauses work against you, how serious each one is, and what they could cost you over 12 months. No login, and your file is deleted after the analysis.
What a New York lease can’t include
New York law caps the total deposit at one month’s rent, caps application fees at $20, limits late fees to $50 or 5%, and protects your right to a roommate. New York City adds its own housing code and the FARE Act on broker fees.
- An application fee over $20N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a
- A late fee over $50, or before day fiveN.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a
- A deposit plus last month’s rentN.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108
- Keeping the deposit longer than 14 daysN.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108
- Legal fees that only run one wayN.Y. Real Prop. Law § 234
- A ban on roommatesN.Y. Real Prop. Law § 235-f
- An absolute ban on subletting (buildings with 4+ units)N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 226-b
- Entry at any timeN.Y. Real Prop. Law § 235
- Lockouts or utility shutoffs on defaultN.Y. Real Prop. Acts. Law § 768
- A big rent increase on short noticeN.Y. Real Prop. Law § 226-c
Legal in New York, even if it feels unfair
We flag what the law prohibits, not everything that’s inconvenient. These terms are lawful in New York, so the report won’t call them illegal:
Requiring consent before you assign the lease
Assignment (handing the whole lease to someone else) needs the landlord’s written consent, which can be withheld without cause. If it’s unreasonably withheld, you can be released from the lease on 30 days’ notice.
N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 226-b
Everything we check in a New York lease
Every rule below comes from official New York or federal government text and was reviewed before it went live. Each citation links to that text.
Security deposits
Deposit limit
Return deadline
How the deposit is held
Rent, fees and charges
Application and screening fees
Late fee limits
Rent increase notice
Rent receipts
Clauses the law voids
Clauses that waive tenant rights
Repairs, safety and living conditions
Landlord’s duty to repair
Rent withholding and escrow
Federal lead-paint disclosure
Uninhabitable conditions
Entry and privacy
Reasons a landlord may enter
Eviction, lockouts and ending a lease
Retaliation
When retaliation is presumed
Grounds for eviction
Court eviction process
Lockouts and self-help eviction
Landlord’s duty to re-rent
Early termination rights
Automatic renewal and end-of-lease notice
Military and senior early termination
50 U.S.C. § 3955N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 227-aN.Y. Real Prop. Law § 236N.Y. Mil. Law § 310
Roommates and subletting
Roommates and occupancy
Subletting and assignment
Discrimination and fair housing
Protected classes
Vouchers and source of income
Assistance animals
City and county rules
Pick your city in the uploader and these local rules are checked on top of state law.
Albany
Just-cause eviction, Rent control and stabilization
Beacon
Just-cause eviction, Rent control and stabilization
Binghamton
Just-cause eviction, Rent control and stabilization
Hudson
Just-cause eviction, Rent control and stabilization
Ithaca
Just-cause eviction, Rent control and stabilization
Kingston
Just-cause eviction, Rent control and stabilization, Subletting and assignment, Clauses that waive tenant rights
Mount Vernon
Rent control and stabilization, Just-cause eviction, Subletting and assignment, Clauses that waive tenant rights
New Rochelle
Rent control and stabilization, Just-cause eviction, Subletting and assignment, Clauses that waive tenant rights
New York City
Heat and hot water, Pests and rodents, Exits and safety, State lead-paint law, Penalties for illegal eviction, Broker fees, Just-cause eviction, Rent control and stabilization
Newburgh
Just-cause eviction, Rent control and stabilization
Rochester
Just-cause eviction, Rent control and stabilization
White Plains
Rent control and stabilization, Just-cause eviction, Subletting and assignment, Clauses that waive tenant rights
Yonkers
Rent control and stabilization, Just-cause eviction, Subletting and assignment, Clauses that waive tenant rights
New York renter guides
- How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in New York?
- How much can a landlord charge for a late fee in New York?
- How to break a lease in New York without penalty
- Getting your first apartment in NYC: what the law actually guarantees
- Renting in Brooklyn: brownstones, basements, and what to check first
Questions about New York lease reviews
Is the New York lease review free?
Yes. Upload your lease with no login and in about two minutes you’ll see how many clauses work against you, how serious each one is, and one flagged clause in full. The complete report and Action Kit are a one-time $8.99.
Which New York laws does LeasePatrol check?
22 New York statutes and regulations covering deposits, fees, repairs, entry, eviction and discrimination, plus the federal fair housing and lead-paint rules, and local rules in Albany, Beacon, Binghamton, Hudson, Ithaca, Kingston, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, New York City, Newburgh, Rochester, White Plains and Yonkers. The full list is on this page, each linked to the official text.
Does it apply city rules in New York?
Yes, for Albany, Beacon, Binghamton, Hudson, Ithaca, Kingston, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, New York City, Newburgh, Rochester, White Plains and Yonkers. Pick your city in the uploader and its local rules are checked on top of state law. Leases elsewhere in New York get the full state check.
Is this legal advice?
No. LeasePatrol is a software tool that compares your lease with the law and explains what it finds. If you’re facing an eviction or a lawsuit, talk to a tenant lawyer or your local legal aid office.
LeasePatrol provides rental law information, not legal advice, and is not a law firm.