Find a Landlord-Tenant Lawyer
Landlord-tenant lawyers handle the housing relationship itself: nonpayment and holdover cases, repairs, rent-stabilized overcharge, lockouts, and leases. That work is separate from a closing or a title search, which is real estate. In New York City the courthouse is Housing Court, and the borough on the petition is the one that matters. Tenants facing eviction should ask about free Right to Counsel help before paying for a lawyer. Small landlords use the same court, and they still have to file a case rather than change the locks. A consult is for reading the papers you already have and naming the next deadline. It is not a promise about who will win.
Landlord-Tenant Lawyers by state and city
When to hire a landlord-tenant lawyer
Talk to a landlord-tenant lawyer when you are served with a Housing Court petition, when the apartment needs repairs the owner will not make, when the rent looks higher than the stabilized legal rent, when you are locked out without a court order, or when you are a small landlord who needs to start or answer a case. Bring the petition, the lease, and any HPD or DHCR notices. If you are a tenant in an eviction case, ask the court about free counsel first.
Common matters they handle
- Nonpayment and holdover evictions
- HP repairs and housing conditions
- Rent overcharge and rent stabilization
- Illegal lockouts
- Lease disputes
- Small landlord Housing Court cases
Landlord-Tenant Lawyer FAQ
How much does a landlord-tenant lawyer cost?
In the New York City market, a consult is often about $100–$400. A tenant Housing Court case is often a flat fee in the low thousands, and hourly work is often in the mid-hundreds. These are market estimates, not a Lawckin quote. Confirm the fee with the attorney. The price on a Lawckin profile is that lawyer’s consult fee.
Where do I go for an eviction case?
Housing Court in the borough named on the papers. Manhattan and the other boroughs do not share one clerk. Check the address on the petition before you travel.
Can my landlord lock me out?
A landlord has to go through court to evict. Changing the locks without a court order is not that process. Tell the Housing Court clerk if you were locked out, and call 911 if you are unsafe.
Is landlord-tenant the same as real estate?
No. Real estate on Lawckin is closings, title, and property deals. Landlord-tenant is Housing Court, repairs, overcharge, and leases. A lawyer can list both. This page is only the housing practice.