Illegal lockouts in NYC: These are your rights as a tenant

NEW YORK (PIX11) – Mayor Eric Adams wants to crack down on landlords illegally locking out their tenants. 

After announcing the formation of a new Tenant Protection Cabinet, the mayor’s public engagement unit hosted a community event in East New York on Tuesday. The community-based event served as an outreach opportunity to pass out vital information on tenant rights. 

The Brooklyn neighborhood has the highest unlawful eviction court filing rates in the borough, according to officials.  

“Protecting tenants from unlawful evictions is an absolute must in our current housing environment,” said Executive Director for Housing Leila Bozorg. “Expanding and coordinating this kind of on-the-ground campaign to educate tenants on their legal rights is part of the vision of the Tenant Protection Cabinet.” 

Since 2020, East New York's zip code 11208 has been among the city's top five zip codes with the highest number of illegal lockout court filings.  

Tenants' rights in NYC  

• Unlawful evictions are illegal; your immigration status does not matter.  
• You are protected against an illegal lockout if you have resided in the space for more than 30 days, even if there is no formal lease.  

• Every tenant renting a unit is legally entitled to remain in their residence until they have been officially evicted through a court-ordered process.  
• A court order must be signed by a judge and enforced by a marshal or sheriff.  
• Verbal evictions, letters, or notices do not replace any legal paperwork signed by a magistrate.  
• It is illegal for a landlord to cut off utilities such as heat, hot water, and electricity to get the tenant to leave.  
• Tenants who believe they are being illegally locked out are encouraged to dial 911.  

More information on illegal lockouts can be found here.