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Do I Need a Lawyer To Rent An Apartment in NYC? (Tip #43)

Do I Need a Lawyer to Represent Me When Renting an Apartment in NYC?


You probably already know how complicated it is to rent a NYC apartment.  You’ve also heard stories about how people “got screwed” in the process of renting in NYC. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that you need a lawyer to represent your interests during the rental process.  

But this is rarely true.

It IS true that some people will hire an attorney to read over the lease, especially for higher-priced rental agreements. You may also need the services of a lawyer in case you are suddenly being evicted by your landlord, or if the landlord is simply not holding up his end of the lease agreement.

NOTE: To search for NYC apartments go to frele.com (free service).  Or, click for more rental tips 

However, people rarely (if ever) will need a lawyer when renting an apartment in NYC.

Here’s why:

Most NYC Landlords Use Standard Leases 

Standard leases are often used in NYC real estate. There are a few different types of leases floating around which have been used for many decades.  It is not like landlords are all using different legal documents.  If this were the case, attorneys would be much more warranted.   


NYC Laws Tend to Protect Tenants Over Landlords

NYC real estate laws are known to heavily favor tenants and most landlords know this. This is why most landlords will often make a real effort to treat tenants well. Generally, landlords want to remain in business for a long time, so they would rather avoid getting into legal trouble. They would much rather attorneys don’t get involved.   

Landlords Main Goal is to Get Good Tenants 

Ultimately, landlords want good tenants. This is their mission.  While it sometimes may not feel this way to the tenant, landlords are generally not in the business of trying to screw over their tenants.  They would rather foster a positive relationship which helps keep renewal rates high and vacancies low.  

Lawyers Are Expensive

Considering that you are already spending so much money to rent in NYC, hiring a lawyer can set you back at least a few thousand dollars. You would have to add it to the already hefty upfront costs of NYC renting.  You may no longer be able to afford that apartment you just fell in love with!  You can read more about in our blog on the up-front costs to rent an apartment in NYC.

A Good Real Estate Agent Makes a Big Difference

Although a real estate agent is not a lawyer and is not allowed to advise you about the law, the agent possesses a good understanding of what is normal and what is not.  Many NYC renters are represented by real estate agents who can guide them through the entire rental process.

For more NYC rental tips, please go to frele.com/learn.

This article was written by:
Phil Horigan, NYC Real Estate Veteran
Founder, Frēlē, the free and honest NYC rental marketplace
Producer, Phil’s NYC Rental Tips [YouTube Channel]
Blogger: flowfreely.com
Instagram: @philiphorigan

Phil has been a licensed NYC real estate agent since 2004 working for some of the top real estate brokerage firms in the industry.  He founded Leasebreak.com in 2013, and Frēlē in 2017.  Frēlē and Leasebreak are free and transparent rental marketplaces to search for or post apartments for rent in NYC

Go to frele.com to search for NYC apartments (free service).

Updated on September 21, 2019

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