LawHelpNY.org (Eviction & Legal Help)
Last updated August 2026
If you rent in New York City and get eviction papers, learn these three words: Right to Counsel. Income-eligible NYC tenants, up to 200 percent of the poverty line, have the RIGHT to a free attorney in Housing Court, in every zip code. Screening happens at or right after your first court date. Show up; the lawyer meets you there.
The law slows evictions down more than most tenants know. Before a nonpayment case, the landlord must deliver a written rent demand at least 14 days ahead. Then eviction always requires court: a Notice of Petition and Petition, which in NYC nonpayment cases is served 10 to 17 days before the court date. In NYC nonpayment cases you answer within 10 days of the notice; missing it risks a default.
LawHelpNY.org, run by the nonprofit Pro Bono Net, is the free front door: plain-language guides, a statewide directory of free legal services, and LiveHelp chat Monday through Thursday, 9 to 9. Outside NYC, the EvictionDefenderNY tool helps you prepare your response.
Renters outside NYC got a new shield in 2024: Good Cause Eviction, automatic in NYC for covered apartments and opt-in elsewhere, limits no-cause evictions and makes rent hikes above roughly 10 percent presumptively unreasonable. Whether your building is covered is exactly the kind of question legal aid answers free.
One program note: ERAP, the pandemic rent relief, is fully closed; its portal shut down in late 2025. For rent money now, dial 211 (311 in NYC) and ask your DSS about emergency assistance, which gets a same-day answer. The court clock and the money hunt run in parallel; work both.
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- The legal information and self-help tools are free for everyone
- Legal aid referrals are generally income-based; each program screens you
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Read every paper you receive and note dates. A nonpayment case starts with a 14-day written rent demand, then court papers served 10 to 17 days before the court date.
- 2
In NYC: answer within 10 days of the notice of petition, and go to your first court date, where Right to Counsel screening gets income-eligible tenants a free lawyer.
- 3
Outside NYC: use the EvictionDefenderNY tool on LawHelpNY.org to prepare your response, and find local legal aid in the site's directory.
- 4
Ask legal aid whether Good Cause Eviction covers your apartment; it limits no-cause evictions and outsized rent hikes.
- 5
Chat with LiveHelp on LawHelpNY.org (Mon-Thu, 9 to 9) if you are not sure where to start.
- 6
Behind on rent? Dial 211 (311 in NYC) and ask your DSS about same-day emergency assistance while the case proceeds.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Can I get a free eviction lawyer in NYC?
Yes, by right. NYC's Right to Counsel gives income-eligible tenants (up to 200 percent of poverty) a free attorney in Housing Court, in all zip codes. Screening happens at or right after your first court date, so appear.
How much notice before an eviction case in NY?
For nonpayment: a written rent demand at least 14 days before the case starts. In NYC nonpayment cases, court papers are then served 10 to 17 days before the court date. Eviction always requires winning in court.
How long do I have to answer in NYC?
10 days from receiving the notice of petition in a nonpayment case. Answer on time or risk a default judgment; the trial is then set 3 to 8 days after you answer.
What is Good Cause Eviction?
A 2024 law limiting evictions without good cause and making rent hikes above about 10 percent presumptively unreasonable. Automatic for covered NYC apartments; elsewhere it applies where the municipality opts in. Legal aid can tell you if your building is covered.
Is ERAP still taking applications?
No. ERAP closed to new applications in January 2023 and its portal shut down in November 2025. For rent help now, ask your DSS about emergency assistance and dial 211 (311 in NYC).
Where do I find free legal help in NY?
LawHelpNY.org: a statewide directory of free legal services, plain-language guides, LiveHelp chat Monday-Thursday 9 to 9, and the EvictionDefenderNY self-help tool for cases outside NYC.
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