- Services
- Tenant Defense Project
Tenant Defense Project
We offer free legal defense for tenants facing eviction, unlawful detainer, and other housing issues.
Free Eviction Lawyer in Upstate New York
Losing your home is one of the most stressful experiences anyone can face. Our skilled eviction lawyer and housing attorney team work to protect your rights—helping stop filings, negotiate with landlords, and enforce the implied warranty of habitability.
We also support you through related matters like dealing with your local housing authority, connecting you to rental assistance, and ensuring you don’t fall through the cracks.
We serve low and moderate-income people in the following counties:
- Broome
- Cayuga
- Chenango
- Cortland
- Delaware
- Herkimer
- Jefferson
- Lewis
- Madison
- Oneida
- Onondaga
- Oswego
- Otsego
How It Works
Step 1
Call or Apply
Call our helpline or apply online
Step 2
Screening
We review your application
Step 3
Advocate Assigned
Get matched with legal support
Did You Know?
- In New York, landlords are legally required to ensure that rental properties are “fit for human habitation and for the uses reasonably intended by the parties” and that occupants are not “subjected to any conditions which would be dangerous, hazardous, or detrimental to their life, health or safety.”
- Article 7-D of the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law allows tenants in New York to sue their landlords for repairs to unsafe living conditions and for reduced rent until the repairs are made. This law does not cover unsafe conditions caused by the tenant or their guests.
- Landlords must provide specific notices before starting an eviction for unpaid rent: a 5-day notice is sent via certified mail if rent isn’t paid within 5 days of the due date. This notification does not mean a nonpayment eviction action has started. Before a landlord can start a nonpayment eviction action, they must give a second, signed, written “14-day notice,” which gives you 14 days to either pay the rent you owe or leave.
- While there is no guaranteed right to counsel in eviction proceedings in LASMNY’s service area, we work to represent as many tenants as possible and provide an eviction lawyer in court to ensure fair treatment and protect tenant rights.
Helpful Resources
FAQs
Find the answers to our most asked questions about.