Free Lawyers for Tenants (Universal Access to Legal Services)
Under the law, some tenants in New York City, no matter their zip code or immigration status, can get a free lawyer from start to finish in their New York City Housing Court case. This depends on 2 things:
- Your income and how many people live with you
- The type of court case
Income Eligible
Whether you get a free lawyer depends on your income and how many people live with you. You can get a free lawyer if your yearly household income is less than the amount in the chart below.
| # of People in Your Home | Household Yearly Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $29,160 |
| 2 | $39,440 |
| 3 | $49,720 |
| 4 | $60,000 |
| 5 | $70,280 |
| 6 | $80,560 |
| 7 | $90,840 |
| 8 | $101,120 |
| For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $10,280 for each additional person. | |
Type of Court Case
Tenants with Holdover cases and Nonpayment cases get a free lawyer. Your court papers say the type of case. A nonpayment case is what an owner starts to collect rent. A holdover case is what an owner starts to evict a tenant for a different reason than nonpayment of rent. Learn more about Holdover and Nonpayment cases.
If you have a termination of tenancy case against you brought by the New York Housing Authority (NYCHA), you are also eligible to get a free lawyer for your case.
Where to Get More Information
If you qualify for a free lawyer, visit About the Universal Access to Legal Services Law to find out how to get a free lawyer and what services you can get.
If you don’t qualify but want information about other ways to get legal help, visit Finding Legal Assistance.
