New York Lease Agreement with ezSign

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Create and Download the New York Residential Lease & Rental Agreement printable PDF for Landlords. This state-specific Lease is customizable and includes NY laws.

Document Last Modified: 11/6/2023

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Pro Tip: Before signing a New York Residential Lease Agreement, always do thorough Tenant Screening to reduce the risk of a bad outcome.

Landlord Tenant Law in New York

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New York Lease Agreement

New York Lease Agreement Guarantee Seal

New York Landlords must comply with all New York State Lease laws. This means that a basic Lease or standard Lease Template isn’t enough. Instead, you need a state-specific Lease to protect you and your investment.

This can seem complicated, but we make it EZ.

Our New York Rental Agreement is guaranteed to comply with all state laws.

  • We offer state assist tips as you build your Rental Lease Agreement
  • We automatically include any state-required language, clauses, or terms
  • We automatically include any state-required disclosure or addenda

This gives you so much more than just a standard template or a free Lease form. A good Lease means:

  • Complete protection
  • Peace of mind
  • Better rental outcomes
  • Increased return on your investment
  • You’re set up for success as a Landlord

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With our Lease Builder Wizard:

  1. Just follow simple prompts to customize your Lease entirely online.
  2. It’s Guaranteed to comply with all NY laws.
  3. You can just check boxes to add any additional terms, documents, or disclosures that you want.

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Landlord Tenant Law in New York

NY Landlord-Tenant Laws

Both New York City and the State of New York have complex Landlord-Tenant laws that Landlords need to know and follow. This is true for all types of rental properties, including apartments, condos, duplexes, single-family homes, and multi-family buildings.

To help make you a Pro Landlord, below is an overview of those requirements.


Note: Our New York Lease Agreement complies with all New York State and New York
City Landlord and Tenant laws.

Use our Lease Builder Wizard to create both short and long-term NYS and NYC Lease
Agreements.

Category State Law
Ending and Renewing
If a tenant has a lease of less than one year, a 30-day notice is now mandatory to end the lease.
A 60-day notice is required for renters who have lived in an apartment for more than one year, but less than two years, or have a lease of at least one year, but less than two years.
Tenants who have lived in a unit for more than two years, or have a lease of at least two years, must get a 90-day notice.
Additionally, the same notice timeframes listed above apply if the landlord intends to raise the rent for a unit of more than 5%.
Landlords of regulated apartments are required to give 90- to 120-day notices to end the lease.
Security Deposit
Security deposit for all properties (formerly this only applied to most rent-regulated properties) is now limited by law to one (1) month's rent. Additionally, landlords must now return security deposits within 14 days of the tenant leaving the unit, along with an itemized statement covering any deductions made.

If the apartment is in a building with 6 or more units, the landlord is required by law to place the security deposit in a separate interest-bearing bank account in New York State. The Landlord must then notify the tenant concerning the bank in which it's being held. The landlord may keep 1% of the amount deposited per year for administrative expenses, the remaining interest is to be paid annually to the tenant or left to accumulate at the tenant's option.

The landlord must return the security deposit, less any lawful deduction, to the tenant at the end of the lease or within a reasonable time thereafter. If the damage was done, the landlord may apply part or all of the security deposit to the cost of repair.
Returned Payment Fee
A dishonored check charge must be specified in the lease and may not exceed $20.
Late Fee
Landlords cannot charge late fees until rent is five days late and the late fee cannot be more than $50 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is less.

Insurance Requirements
For rent regulated apartments, the landlord may not require the tenant to obtain renter’s insurance because this effectively requires the tenant to pay a fee in excess of the legal regulated rent.
Addenda & Disclosures
New York Assist: If the leased premises was constructed prior to 1978 (or prior to January 1, 1960 within New York City limits), the landlord must provide all tenants with the Lead-Based Paint EPA Disclosure and the Lead-Based Paint EPA Pamphlet.

Sprinkler system notice: Every residential lease shall provide conspicuous notice in boldface type as to the existence or non-existence of a maintained and operative sprinkler system in the leased premises. If there is a maintained and operative sprinkler system in the leased premises, the residential lease agreement shall provide further notice as to the last date of maintenance and inspection.

NYC: Local Law 117 requires that the property owner of multiple dwellings provide stove knob covers for gas-powered stoves where the owner knows or reasonably should know that a child under six years of age resides.
Notice to Enter
Reasonable notice is required except in an emergency.
Landlord Requirements
Electronic Rent Payments: A landlord shall not require a lessee or tenant to use an electronic billing and/or payment system as the only method for the payment of rent.

Owners must ensure that buildings are safe, clean and well maintained, in both common areas and in individual apartments. Among other responsibilities, owners must provide and maintain security measures, heat, hot and cold water, good lighting and make repairs to keep the building in good repair.

Required Disclosures

New York law requires that certain addenda and disclosures be included in the Lease Package. In addition to statewide requirements, there are some NYC rental requirements that Landlords should know.


Note: When you build a Lease Agreement with our Lease Builder Wizard, all New
York-required documents, language, and disclosures are automatically included.

Disclosures required in NYC:

  • Bed Bug Disclosure: If a unit has a history of bed bugs, Landlords are required to disclose any bedbug infestation history. (NYC Admin Code § 27–2018.1)
  • Smoking Policy: In buildings with 3 or more rental units, Landlords must have a policy stating where smoking is prohibited. (NYC Admin Code 5, § 17-505)
  • Stove Knob Covers: If a Tenant has children under the age of six (6), the Landlord must provide knob covers for gas-powered stoves. (NYC Admin Code § 27-2046.4(a))
  • Window Guards: If a Tenant has a child that is ten (10) years or younger, the Landlord must equip the rental unit with window guards. (NYC Admin Code § 27–2043.1)
New York Rental Leases

State-wide Required Disclosures:

  • Copy of Signed Lease: For rent-stabilized Tenants, the Landlord must provide the Tenant with a signed copy of the Rental Lease Agreement within thirty (30) days of the start of the Tenancy. (Tenants’ Rights Guide)
  • Lead-Based Paint Disclosure: Pursuant to federal law, Landlords must provide Tenants with a lead-based paint disclosure for all residences built before 1978.
  • Sprinkler Disclosure: Landlords must provide notice of whether or not a sprinkler system exists. (Article 7, Section 231-A)

Pro Tip: Experienced Landlords create a complete Lease Package that includes all the forms Tenants need, for example:

Our Lease Builder Wizard has over 25 disclosures and addenda for Landlords to select!

New York City (NYC) Rental Agreement

Our New York Lease Agreements not only meet all state requirements, but they also meet all New York City (NYC) rental requirements.

Property Management in New York City

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does My New York Lease Agreement Need to Be Notarized?

No, your Lease Agreement is a legally binding contract. It needs to be executed, or signed, by both parties, but it does not need to be notarized.

Can I Write My Own New York Lease Agreement?

Technically speaking, yes, you can write your own Lease Agreement, but it’s not a good idea. The Lease is what outlines all terms of the tenancy and protects Landlords should any issues arise with the property or the Tenant.

It’s the most important document or form that Landlords have, so it’s important that it complies with all state laws and covers all terms, rules, and policies.

It’s the most important document or form that Landlords have, so it’s important that it complies with all state laws and covers all terms, rules, and policies.

All that to say, it’s not a good idea to write your own Lease unless you have experience drafting Leases and are experienced with Landlord-Tenant laws in your area.

Plus, you don’t want just a generic Lease, like the one offered by the New York Association of Realtors. Nor is a blank, fillable Lease a good idea.

You need a Lease that is state-specific, customizable, and comprehensive.

What are the different types of Lease Agreements?

There are a number of different Lease Agreements depending on the type of property and the period of Tenancy. For example, there are Commercial Lease Agreements for commercial properties and Residential Lease Agreements for residential properties, like an apartment, house, duplex, or condo.

Additionally, there are month-to-month Lease Agreements for short-term rental agreements, vacation rental agreements,and fixed-term Lease Agreements, which are commonly one year.

While there are many different types, they all serve the same purpose: to outline the terms under which a Tenant, or lessee, rents property from a Landlord, or lessor.

Why Do I Need a State-Specific Lease?

If you’re renting residential real estate in New York, New York state law is the governing law. This means your Residential Lease Agreement needs to comply with all New York laws.

Start your New York Lease Agreement or apartment Lease Agreement now!

New York State Specific Documents

Rental Lease Agreements for Nearby States

Things to Consider Before You Hand Over Legal Possession of Your New York Rental Property

  • Have all Tenants completed a Rental Application and Tenant Screening?
  • Do you have a fully executed Lease Agreement?
  • Have you received the entire security deposit and first month’s rent?

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