N.Y. Real Property Law Section 235-B
Warranty of habitability

Mentioned in

Breaking a Lease in New York | Tenant & Property Manager Rights

DoorLoop, July 13, 2023

“New York law has several different guidelines when it comes to breaking a lease agreement. Depending on the case, the landlord or property manager may be able to recover the money they lost if the tenant ends the agreement without a valid reason.”
 
Bibliographic info

1.

In every written or oral lease or rental agreement for residential premises the landlord or lessor shall be deemed to covenant and warrant that the premises so leased or rented and all areas used in connection therewith in common with other tenants or residents are fit for human habitation and for the uses reasonably intended by the parties and that the occupants of such premises shall not be subjected to any conditions which would be dangerous, hazardous or detrimental to their life, health or safety. When any such condition has been caused by the misconduct of the tenant or lessee or persons under his direction or control, it shall not constitute a breach of such covenants and warranties.

2.

Any agreement by a lessee or tenant of a dwelling waiving or modifying his rights as set forth in this section shall be void as contrary to public policy.

3.

In determining the amount of damages sustained by a tenant as a result of a breach of the warranty set forth in the section, the court;

(a)

need not require any expert testimony; and

(b)

shall, to the extent the warranty is breached or cannot be cured by reason of a strike or other labor dispute which is not caused primarily by the individual landlord or lessor and such damages are attributable to such strike, exclude recovery to such extent, except to the extent of the net savings, if any, to the landlord or lessor by reason of such strike or labor dispute allocable to the tenant’s premises, provided, however, that the landlord or lesser has made a good faith attempt, where practicable, to cure the breach.

(c)

where the premises is subject to regulation pursuant to the local emergency housing rent control law, the emergency tenant protection act of nineteen seventy-four, the rent stabilization law of nineteen hundred sixty-nine or the city rent and rehabilitation law, reduce the amount awarded hereunder by the total amount of any rent reduction ordered by the state division of housing and community renewal pursuant to such laws or act, awarded to the tenant, from the effective date of such rent reduction order, that relates to one or more matters for which relief is awarded hereunder.

Source: Section 235-B — Warranty of habitability, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RPP/235-B (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Oct. 26, 2024).

220
Action for use and occupation 221
Rent due on life leases recoverable 222
When rent is apportionable 223
Rights where property or lease is transferred 223‑A
Remedies of lessee when possession is not delivered 223‑B
Retaliation by landlord against tenant 224
Attornment by tenant 225
Notice of action adverse to possession of tenant 226
Effect of renewal on sub-lease 226‑A
Effect of new lease on tenant’s right to remove fixtures or improvements 226‑B
Right to sublease or assign 226‑C
Notice of rent increase or non-renewal of residential tenancy 227
When tenant may surrender premises 227‑A
Termination of residential lease by senior citizens or individuals with a disability moving to a residence of a family member or entering... 227‑B
Termination of certain contracts by senior citizens 227‑C
Termination of residential lease by victims of domestic violence 227‑D
Discrimination based on domestic violence status 227‑E
Landlord duty to mitigate damages 227‑F
Denial on the basis of involvement in prior disputes prohibited 228
Termination of tenancies at will or by sufferance, by notice 229
Liability of tenant holding over after giving notice of intention to quit 230
Right of tenants to form, join or participate in tenants’ groups 231
Lease, when void 231‑A
Sprinkler system notice in residential leases 231‑B
Flood history and risk notice in residential leases 231‑C
Good cause eviction law notice 232
Duration of certain agreements in New York 232‑A
Notice to terminate monthly tenancy or tenancy from month to month in the city of New York 232‑B
Notification to terminate monthly tenancy or tenancy from month to month outside the city of New York 232‑C
Holding over by a tenant after expiration of a term longer than one month 233
Manufactured home parks 233‑A
Sale of manufactured home parks 233‑B
Manufactured home parks 233‑B*2
Campgrounds 233‑C
Residential ground lease cooperative apartment buildings 234
Right to recover attorneys’ fees in actions or summary proceedings arising out of leases of residential property 234‑A
Unauthorized legal fees 235
Wilful violations 235‑A
Tenant right to offset payments and entitlement to damages in certain cases 235‑B
Warranty of habitability 235‑BB
Certificates of occupancy 235‑C
Unconscionable lease or clause 235‑D
Harassment 235‑E
Duty to provide a written receipt 235‑F
Unlawful restrictions on occupancy 235‑G
Electronic billing and/or payment of rent 235‑H
Waiver of right to bring a declaratory judgment action 235‑I
Unreasonable tenant fees for reproductions of keys 236
Assignment of lease of a deceased tenant 236‑A
Termination of lease of a deceased tenant 237
Discrimination in leases with respect to bearing of children 237‑A
Discrimination against children in dwelling houses and manufactured home parks 238
Agreements or contracts for privileges to deal with occupants of tenements, apartment houses or bungalow colonies 238‑A
Limitation on fees
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Accessed:
Oct. 26, 2024

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 235-B’s source at nysenate​.gov

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