Harassment by an owner is a course of action intended to force a tenant out of his/her apartment or to cause a tenant to give up the rights granted the tenant by the Rent Stabilization Law or Rent Control Law.

No owner or anyone acting for the owner may interfere with a tenant's privacy, comfort, or quiet enjoyment of the apartment. Interference includes reducing services or engaging in baseless court proceeding.

Harassment is a serious violation of a tenant's rights. The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) established the Enforcement Unit is specifically to handle harassment cases. The Unit is staffed with attorneys who specialize in this area of the rent laws. They respond to all complaint of harassment made within New York State related to rent regulated housing.

Owners found guilty of tenant harassment based on acts or offenses committed before July 20, 1997 are subject to fines of up to $1,000 for each violation against a rent controlled tenant and up to $5,000 for each violation against a rent stabilized tenant.

The Rent Regulation Reform Act of 1997 increased the fines for tenants harassment, and made them uniform for rent controlled and rent stabilized apartment. Owners found guilty of tenant harassment based on acts or offenses committed on July 20, 1997 are subject to fines of up to $5,000 for each violation against any rent regulated tenant.

In addition, DHCR, will permit no rent increases once there has been a finding of harassment until there is a finding that the harassment has ended. If you think you are a victim of harassment, you may obtain a "Tenant Statement of Complaint(s)-Harassment" (DHCR Form RA-60H) from your Borough or County Rent Office, or write to:

DHCR Enforcement Bureau
25 Beaver Street
New York, NY 10004

For more information or assistance, call the DHCR Rent InfoLine, or visit your or County Rent Office.

Central
92-31 Union Hall Street
4th Floor
Jamaica, NY 11433
(718)739-6400

Brooklyn
55 Hanson Place
7th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Upper Manhattan
163 West 125th Street
5th Floor
New York, NY 10027
North side of 110 St. and above

Nassau County
50 Clinton Street
6th Floor
Hempstead, NY 11550

Westchester County
55 Church Street
White Plain, NY 10601

Lower Manhattan
25 Beaver Street 5th Floor
New York, NY10004
South side of 110 St. and below

Bronx
1 Fordam Plaza
2nd Floor
Bronx, NY 10458

Staten Island
60 Bay Street
7th Floor
Staten Island, NY 10301

Rockland County
94-96 North Main Street
Spring Valley, NY 10977

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