Free New York Lease Agreement Form

New York Rental/Lease Agreements are required by Federal law to include specific information, including:

1. the names of both the landlord and tenant,
2. description and address of the property,
3. any pet limitations,
4. information regarding health hazards,
5. how much rent and security deposit are due,
6. The location and date of where and when the rent is to be paid

States may differ on some key issues. For example, some states may impose less stringent security deposit laws, while others may require move-in checklists or specific utility payment arrangements.

To protect your legal and financial rights, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the specificities and nuances the State of New York requires when executing a lease agreement.

Other New York Real Estate documents you might be interested in are:

• Sublease Agreement –  Used by a tenant to rent out all or part of their rented property to a new tenant.
• Eviction Notice – Used by a landlord to start the eviction process with a current tenant.

Table of Contents

• New York Residential Lease Agreement Sample
• New York Residential Lease Agreement Template(PDF & Word)
• New York Landlord and Tenant Laws

New York Residential Lease Agreement Sample

The sample lease agreement below describes a contract between “Landlord” Freddie Jensen and “Tenant” Bobby Kim. He agrees to rent an apartment in New York City for $1,000 monthly for a fixed term. The tenant agrees to pay for all utilities and services for the Premises.

This is an excellent example of a simple lease agreement’s provisions and how one should look in its final form.

New York Residential Lease Agreement Template(PDF & Word)

The New York Residential Lease Agreement Template below defines all necessary lease agreement terms.

New York Landlord and Tenant Laws

New York imposes specific and distinct requirements for landlords and tenants when executing a Lease/Rental Agreement. For example, New York law provides for the following:

Security Deposit:

1. There is no limit on the amount of a security deposit a landlord can request from tenants, so long as it is written in the lease. (No statute)
2. A landlord must ensure that a tenant’s deposit will not be co-mingled with a landlord’s assets. (N.Y. GOL §§ 7-103)
3. Suppose the deposit is held in an interest-bearing account. In that case, the landlord is entitled to receive the equivalent of one percent (1%) per year in exchange for all other administrative and custodial expenses. (N.Y. GOL §7-103)

Landlord Right of Entry:

1. A landlord need not provide notice to enter the property, although informing their tenants before entry is highly recommended. (No statute)

Additionally, New York law dictates:

Prohibited Lease Provisions:

1. A lease provision will be prohibited and void where a landlord seeks to waive liability for injuries to property or persons caused by their negligence, where a tenant’s right to a jury is waived, and when furniture is required as collateral for rent. (General Obligations Law § 5-321)