Complete NYC Lease Compliance Checklist for Landlords & Tenants
Staying compliant with NYC housing rules saves time, money, and reduces housing-court risk. Use this checklist to confirm you have every required document and notice.
🎯 Interactive Compliance Tool Available
Use our free interactive checklist with 130+ items, legal citations, and progress tracking.
Access Free Checklist →Must-have documents
- ✓Signed lease and any renewal riders (rent-stabilized rider if applicable)
- ✓Lead paint disclosure and certificate (for units where children under six are present)
- ✓Window guard and stove knob notices (where applicable)
- ✓Certificate of Occupancy / occupancy records (if required)
- ✓Receipts for rent payments and proof of accepted payments (money orders, cancelled checks)
Notices & timelines
- ✓Demand for rent — required before a nonpayment petition in many cases (keep proof of service)
- ✓Notice to Cure / Notice of Termination — used in holdover matters (keep dated copies and proof of service)
- ✓Proof of service documents — affidavits, certified-mail receipts, or other service evidence
Tenant records (what tenants should keep)
- ✓All lease pages and renewal riders
- ✓Receipts for rent and utility payments
- ✓Copies of repair requests (emails, texts, certified letters)
- ✓Dated photos of defects (label each photo with date and location)
How to store & present documents
Keep PDFs and scanned originals in a dated folder. Label items as Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2, etc., for court or landlord‑tenant communications. Create one printable checklist that lives in the tenant file and one in the landlord file.
Printable checklist & next steps
Download and print a one‑page checklist to file with each tenancy. If you're missing items, use our Interactive Compliance Checklist to flag gaps and track your progress.
Authoritative resources
Ready to check your compliance?
Run your lease through our Compliance Checker to find missing items and download a printable NYC Lease Compliance Checklist.