When landlords engage in behaviors that are intended to force a tenant out of his or her apartment or to cause a tenant to give up their rights under the rent laws, the tenants are entitled to legal recourse.

No landlord may interfere with a tenant's privacy or quiet enjoyment of their home. Harassment is considered a serious violation of a tenant's rights, and if a tenant feels they are a victim of harassment, they can take their landlord to court.

It is unlawful for any owner or landlord to directly, or indirectly engage in any conduct such as interruption or discontinuance of required services, or baseless court proceedings, which interferes with or is intended to disturb the peace, privacy, or comfort of the tenant in his or her use of the housing accommodations, or is intended to cause the tenant to vacate their housing accommodations or waive any right afforded to them under the rent regulatory laws.

In the case that a landlord is found guilty of harassment, the landlord is subject to fines imposed by the Commissioner ranging between $1,000 and $5,000 for each offense. The Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) shall not permit any future rent increases once there has been a finding of harassment, until the DHCR decides to lift such order.

In addition to the above, the DHCR may decide to refer harassment violations to the District Attorney.

If you are a rent-controlled or rent stabilized tenant in a commercial building, and your landlord is pressing, cajoling or even harassing you to make a deal or arrangement to move out of your present premises, we can help you assert your rights and maintain your occupancy of, and rights in, your existing home.

Don't delay. Contact the Law Office of Steven R. Sutton, Esq., 630 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017, for assistance and a free case consultation. Call (212) 696-0990 or email us at sutlawman@aol.com.