NYC Housing Court handles disputes between landlords and tenants — including eviction cases, repair orders, and rent-related proceedings. If you’ve been served with housing court papers, or if you need to bring a case against your landlord, this guide explains how the court works, what to expect at each stage, and how to navigate the process.
What Is NYC Housing Court?
NYC Housing Court is a specialized division of the New York City Civil Court. There are five borough housing courts — one in each borough — and they handle a high volume of landlord-tenant cases every year. Cases in housing court are heard by judges and hearing officers, and the proceedings are formal but designed to be accessible to people without lawyers.
The most common case types are:
- Nonpayment cases: Landlord claims the tenant owes back rent
- Holdover cases: Landlord seeks to remove a tenant whose right to possession has ended (expired lease, illegal sublet, etc.)
- HP (Housing Part) proceedings: Tenant petitions to force the landlord to make repairs
- Harassment proceedings: Tenant seeks court intervention for landlord harassment
Where Are the Five Borough Housing Courts?
- Bronx: 1118 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10456
- Brooklyn: 141 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
- Manhattan: 111 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013
- Queens: 89-17 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11435
- Staten Island: 927 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10310
If You Are a Tenant Who Has Been Served Papers
Step 1: Read the Papers Carefully
Housing court papers will include a Notice of Petition (which states the date, time, and location of your first court appearance) and a Petition (which describes the landlord’s claims). Read both carefully. Your first appearance date is legally significant — missing it can result in a default judgment against you.
Step 2: Get a Lawyer Before Your Court Date
If your household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, you are entitled to a free attorney through NYC’s Right to Counsel program. Contact a Right to Counsel provider as soon as possible — before your court date, not after you arrive:
- Eviction Free NYC: evictionfreenyc.org
- Legal Aid Society: (212) 577-3300
- Legal Services NYC: (917) 661-4500
Step 3: Go to the Right to Counsel Desk First
When you arrive at housing court on your first court date, go immediately to the Right to Counsel Help Center desk — do not go straight to the courtroom. The help center is staffed by attorneys who can assess your eligibility and connect you with representation before you appear before a judge. Ask any court officer to point you to the Right to Counsel desk.
Step 4: Understand What Happens in the Courtroom
Your first appearance is typically in a resolution part — a large courtroom where many cases are called simultaneously. Your case will be called; if you have an attorney, they handle the interaction. If you don’t have an attorney yet, tell the judge you are seeking legal representation. Judges are required to advise unrepresented tenants of Right to Counsel.
Most cases are not resolved on the first date. Common outcomes of initial appearances include:
- Adjournment: The case is postponed to a future date (common to allow you to get an attorney)
- Stipulation: A written agreement between landlord and tenant resolving part or all of the case
- Transfer to a trial part: If contested, the case is scheduled for a hearing before a judge
Never Sign a Stipulation Without Understanding It
A stipulation is a binding legal agreement. Courts routinely process stipulations in housing court, and some landlord attorneys present them as routine. Before signing anything, understand exactly what you are agreeing to. A stipulation might include a payment plan, a deadline to vacate, a waiver of certain claims, or other terms with serious consequences. Ask to have any stipulation explained to you, and refuse to sign without understanding every term.
If You Are a Tenant Bringing an HP Case
You can initiate an HP (Housing Part) proceeding to compel your landlord to make repairs. Go to the housing court clerk’s office and ask for the HP proceeding forms. You will be asked to:
- List your address and apartment number
- Describe the conditions you want repaired
- Attach any HPD violations on record (print from hpdonline.nyc.gov)
The clerk will schedule a hearing. HPD is a party to HP proceedings and will be notified. The judge can order your landlord to make specific repairs by a court-ordered deadline.
What to Bring to Every Court Appearance
- Your lease and any prior leases for the apartment
- Rent receipts or bank records showing payments made
- Any written communications with your landlord
- Photos documenting apartment conditions (if relevant)
- HPD violation printouts from hpdonline.nyc.gov
- Notes on your court date, case number, and judge’s name
Frequently Asked Questions
I received housing court papers but I already paid my rent. What do I do?
Appear on your court date with proof of payment (bank statements, money order receipts, certified check copies). Bring documentation for every payment you’ve made. An attorney can help you present this evidence and potentially have the case dismissed. Do not assume the case will resolve itself — appear in court.
What is a default judgment and how do I avoid one?
A default judgment is entered against you if you fail to appear on your court date. In a nonpayment or holdover case, a default can result in a judgment for possession — meaning the landlord can proceed toward eviction. Avoid defaults by appearing on every court date, even if you don’t have a lawyer yet.
My landlord’s attorney keeps asking me to sign papers. Do I have to?
No. You are never required to sign anything under pressure. Always ask for time to read documents carefully and consult with a legal aid attorney before signing any stipulation or agreement in housing court.
The judge entered a judgment against me. Is it too late to get help?
Not necessarily. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to move to vacate a default judgment, appeal a decision, or negotiate a stay of execution. Contact Legal Aid Society or Legal Services NYC immediately if a judgment has been entered against you.
