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Legal Information: New York

Housing Laws

Updated: 
July 7, 2023

What happens if the landlord does not let me break my lease?

Any landlord who purposefully violates this housing law could be responsible for paying you:

  • a penalty (“liquidated damages”) up to $1,000;
  • the cost of any money you lost due to the violation (“actual damages”);
  • costs for going to court or other costs related to the violation; and
  • attorney’s fees if you have to take your landlord to court due to the violation.1

1 NY Real Prop § 227-c(6)