Housing Court Answers

Housing Court Answers (formerly City-Wide Task Force on Housing Court) has been the best place to go for information about Housing Court for people without lawyers for over thirty years. We are the major voice in reforming the Housing Court. Over the years, we have fought to reform the tenant screening process (known as the blacklist), establish a right to counsel and require the courts to post basic rights and responsibilities.

Housing Court Answers provides Information Tables in the city’s Housing Courts and we staff a hotline for callers with information about housing law, rent arrears assistance, and homeless prevention guidance. We staff an Information Table at 250 Broadway to assist public housing and section 8 tenants in termination hearings. We also conduct trainings for community groups, unions, elected officials and others on Housing Court procedures, eviction prevent programs and housing law. And, last but most important, we fight every day for the rights of unrepresented people in Housing Court.

Need Information?

Need information about New York City Housing Court? Housing Court Answers is the first and best place to go for information about Housing Court.

Call us: 212-962-4795

Housing Court Answers provides telephone assistance from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Thursday. During these hours, the staff and volunteers provide information:

• about Housing Court and Housing Court procedures
• landlord/tenant rules and regulations
• enforcement of housing code violations
• referrals for free legal help
• referrals to community organizations that help with housing problems
• referrals to charities that help with back rent

Queens residents can call our Queens office at 718-657-0599.

NEED HELP PAYING BACK RENT?

You should call our hotline if you need help paying back rent. Call us if you have:

1. a case in Housing Court
2. a good reason for falling behind in your rent (for example, you had a death in the family, serious medical illness, loss of job, or reduction in hours at work
3. your income is high enough that you can pay your future rent
4. the amount of arrears is “manageable”

Housing Court Answers does not provide direct financial help — we will refer you to a charitable organization or provide you with information about the Human Resources Administration’s rules for assistance with back rent.