The Right to Counsel For Tenants Who Face Eviction

"On August 11, 2017, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed legislation, the first of its kind in the nation, which guarantees legal representation for low-income tenants who face eviction. The new law has two major innovations with respect to eviction petitions brought in Housing Court.

First, the new law guarantees legal representation in Housing Court for qualified low-income tenants who face eviction proceedings. The lawyers will be provided by nonprofit legal organizations with funding from the City.

Secondly, the new law guarantees individual consultations with lawyers for all tenants who face eviction in Housing Court, not just qualified low-income tenants.

Housing Court, while it may appear to be a somewhat casual environment, is a formal, limited jurisdiction court. Housing Court has an extensive and complex set of procedures that govern how the cases proceed, and applies laws that regulate many aspects of the landlord-tenant relationship, including housing standards, rent levels, government subsidies and the grounds on which landlords can legally evict..."

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