Free Legal Help for Tenants and Landlords in New York

Legal aid organizations, right-to-counsel programs and official court self-help resources in New York, gathered from the state, county and city pages on this site.

Right to a free lawyer in eviction cases

Brooklyn (Kings County): Citywide NYC Universal Access (right-to-counsel) program applies in this borough's Housing Court; see the New York City page for details. The court posts current income limits. Source
Manhattan (New York County): Citywide NYC Universal Access (right-to-counsel) program applies in this borough's Housing Court; see the New York City page for details. The court posts current income limits. Source
Queens (Queens County): Citywide NYC Universal Access (right-to-counsel) program applies in this borough's Housing Court; see the New York City page for details. The court posts current income limits. Source
The Bronx (Bronx County): Citywide NYC Universal Access (right-to-counsel) program applies in this borough's Housing Court; see the New York City page for details. The court posts current income limits. Source
Westchester County (Yonkers, White Plains): Yes, county-wide. Westchester's Housing Counsel law (County Code Ch. 187) created the Office of Housing Counsel. Tenants/occupants of residential rentals in Westchester with household income at or below the higher of 300% of federal poverty guidelines or 60% of county Area Median Income can get legal services, up to full representation, in covered eviction and related proceedings in any Westchester court. Start by calling 211 or the online intake form. Source
Staten Island (Richmond County): Citywide NYC Universal Access (right-to-counsel) program applies in this borough's Housing Court; see the New York City page for details. The court posts current income limits. Source
Buffalo: No guaranteed right to counsel. The court says eligible tenants may get free representation from Neighborhood Legal Services, Center for Elder Law and Justice, Legal Aid Bureau, Volunteer Lawyers Project and Western New York Law Center. Source
New York City: Yes, citywide. Full representation for households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, and brief advice for others, in Housing Court and NYCHA proceedings. Source
Rochester: Free eviction defense may be available through the Tenant Defense Project (named on the City's Bill of Rights page); eligibility and whether it is a guaranteed right were not verified. Source
Yonkers: Yes, under Westchester County's Housing Counsel Law for households at or below 300% of the federal poverty level or 60% of county median income. Source

Free legal aid organizations

The Legal Aid Society — Free civil legal services in every borough, including Housing Court defense.
Serves: Brooklyn (Kings County), Manhattan (New York County), Queens (Queens County), The Bronx (Bronx County), Staten Island (Richmond County)
Legal Services NYC — Free civil legal services for low-income New Yorkers, including eviction defense.
Serves: Brooklyn (Kings County), Manhattan (New York County), Queens (Queens County), The Bronx (Bronx County), Staten Island (Richmond County)
Housing Court Answers — Information and hotline for tenants and small landlords with Housing Court cases.
Serves: Brooklyn (Kings County), Manhattan (New York County), Queens (Queens County), The Bronx (Bronx County), Staten Island (Richmond County)
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley — Free civil legal services; a county Housing Counsel legal provider.
Serves: Westchester County (Yonkers, White Plains)
Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO) — Fair housing and tenant advocacy; a county Housing Counsel advocacy partner.
Serves: Westchester County (Yonkers, White Plains)
Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo — Free legal services for low-income residents.
Serves: Erie County (Buffalo)
Neighborhood Legal Services — Free civil legal aid in Buffalo/Erie County.
Serves: Erie County (Buffalo)
Western New York Law Center — Civil legal services nonprofit.
Serves: Erie County (Buffalo)
Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) — Retained by Erie County to provide fair-housing services and help enforce the county Fair Housing Law.
Serves: Erie County (Buffalo)
The Legal Aid Society of Rochester — Free civil legal services in Rochester/Monroe County.
Serves: Monroe County (Rochester)
LawNY (Legal Assistance of Western New York) — Free civil legal services for low-income residents.
Serves: Monroe County (Rochester)
Empire Justice Center — Statewide legal services nonprofit.
Serves: Monroe County (Rochester)
Legal Services of Long Island — Free civil legal services in Nassau and Suffolk (the former nslawservices.org address redirects here).
Serves: Suffolk County (Long Island), Nassau County (Long Island)
Long Island Housing Services — Fair housing enforcement and tenant counseling on Long Island.
Serves: Suffolk County (Long Island), Nassau County (Long Island)
Legal Services of Central New York — Free civil legal services, including eviction defense.
Serves: Onondaga County (Syracuse)
Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York — Free civil legal services in central New York.
Serves: Onondaga County (Syracuse)
Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York (LASNNY) — Free civil legal services in 16 Northeastern New York counties, with offices in Albany and Saratoga Springs; call for help 833-628-0087.
Serves: Albany County (Albany), Saratoga County (Saratoga Springs), Schenectady County, Rensselaer County
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) — Free civil legal services with offices in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties; housing rights work covers rent, eviction, housing discrimination and property standards; 1-877-574-8529.
Serves: Orange County (Newburgh, Middletown), Dutchess County (Poughkeepsie, Beacon), Rockland County
Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York (LASMNY) — Free civil legal services, including a Tenant Defense Project; offices include Utica and Binghamton. Call the HelpLine or apply online.
Serves: Oneida County (Utica, Rome), Broome County (Binghamton)
Neighborhood Legal Services - Western New York Eviction Prevention Project (WNY-EPP) — Free legal advice, eviction prevention, court representation and referrals to financial help for financially eligible people facing homelessness because of eviction in Erie, Niagara, Wyoming, Orleans and Genesee counties. Hotline (844) 230-7376.
Serves: Niagara County
Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (LSHV) - Kingston office — Serves Ulster County among seven Hudson Valley counties. Kingston office: 918 Ulster Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401, (845) 331-9373; intake 1-877-574-8529. Housing rights page: https://lshv.org/service/housing-rights/
Serves: Ulster County
Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York - Tenant Defense Project — Free eviction defense for renters at or below 80% of Area Median Income in 13 counties including Jefferson; (315) 793-7083. Watertown office: 215 Washington St. #202, Watertown, NY 13601, (315) 955-6700 (https://www.lasmny.org/about/office-locations/watertown/).
Serves: Jefferson County
LawNY (Legal Assistance of Western New York) - Ithaca Office — Serves Tompkins and Tioga counties; tenants only for housing (eviction cases, public/subsidized housing, substandard conditions, mobile homes, utility shut-offs). 902 Taber Street, Ithaca, NY 14850; 607-273-3667, toll free 800-724-4170; phone intake Mon-Fri 9-12:30 and 1:30-5.
Serves: Tompkins County
Legal Assistance of Western New York (LawNY) - Jamestown office — Serves Chautauqua County; landlord/tenant is among its services. 115 East Third Street, Jamestown, NY 14701; 716-664-4535, toll-free 866-664-4567; Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed 12-1).
Serves: Chautauqua County

Find a tenant or eviction lawyer in New York

If you do not qualify for free legal aid, a bar lawyer referral service can match you with a landlord-tenant lawyer for a low-cost first consultation.

New York State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service — 518-463-3200
Referrals are free; the first half-hour consultation costs $35 (no fee for personal injury, Social Security, medical malpractice, veterans and military law, and unemployment or workers' compensation cases). Requests are made online.

Official court and state resources

Legal aid groups set their own eligibility rules (usually income-based). Call ahead or check their site.

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.