Know Your Rights

In June 2019, New York State introduced a historic bill that outlined new protections for renters.

These laws have vastly restored renters' rights to a more accessible and affordable moving process.

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Here's a breakdown of what they are, and how they might affect you.

Pay no more than $20 for application fees

Application fees are now capped at $20, or the cost of running a credit report — whichever cost is lower. That means no broker, property manager, or landlord can charge you over that amount to submit an application for an apartment.

Nooklyn can provide this report at a cost of $20

Your history belongs to you.

Landlords are no longer able to run a report on your history of evictions.

Don't overpay on your security deposit.

A landlord or property manager cannot collect more than one month of rent from you as a security deposit or an advance. That means — to move in — you'll pay your first month of rent and an additional month which will act as your security deposit.

You can pay late without going broke.

Late rental payments are now capped at $50 or 5% of your monthly rent, whichever is lower. Moreover, your landlord or property manager cannot charge you a late fee any sooner than 5 days after the rent is due.

Get your money back, on time.

A landlord or property manager must return your initial security deposit within 14 days of the lease ending, including an itemized statement of any reductions.

You have time to resolve a leasing issue.

Tenants now have 30 days to fix lease violations, an increase from 10 days.

No more surprise rent hikes.

Annual rent increases for tenants living in rent-stabilized apartments will no longer be based on legal (market rate) limits, but the preferential rent limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a rental application cost?

Application fees are now capped at $20 USD, or the cost of running a credit report – whichever cost is lower. That means no broker, property manager, or landlord can charge you over that amount to submit an application for an apartment.

Nooklyn is able to provide a full rental application (including a credit report) at a cost of $20.

What does the application fee cover?

The application fee covers the cost of running a credit report.

I’m not applying to an apartment now, but I will in the near future. Can I start a rental application with Nooklyn now to use in the near future?

Totally! Head here to fill out your rental application. It’ll cost $20, and is valid for 30 days.

What if my agent or landlord tries to charge me over $20?

Real estate professionals are required by law to comply with a maximum fee of $20. If they refuse, or if you prefer to run your credit report independently for a lower cost, use Nooklyn’s platform to fill out the complete rental application for the cost of $20, which can be shared with any third party brokerage, property management company, or landlord.

If you come across this situation, it’s within your rights to report it. You can either call 311 or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Does my application fee apply to only one apartment, or can I use it to apply to more than one apartment?

Yes, you can use it to apply to more than one apartment, both within the Nooklyn platform and elsewhere. If you prefer to create a rental application independently of your brokerage, property manager, or landlord, you can also do so through Nooklyn, for a low cost of $20.

Once you’ve paid to complete a rental application through Nooklyn’s platform, you can use it to apply to any apartment thereafter (provided that it’s submitted within 30 days).