A conversation with Cea, Director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, on the housing resources every New Yorker should know. En inglés y en español.
“I sat down with Cea, the director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, to talk tenant rights in New York City and the free resources most people don’t know exist.”
We covered a lot in a few minutes: what to do when your landlord won’t fix dangerous conditions, where to get free legal help if you’re facing eviction, how to find out if your apartment should be rent stabilized, and yes, resources for landlords and building owners too.
One thing Cea kept coming back to: your best resource is your neighbors. Talk to the people in your building. Someone on your block has been there forever, someone has been the tenant association president, and they know how things work. The Bronx especially has a deep history of tenant organizing, and the city runs workshops, their NYC 101 series, that teach the history of tenant organizing and how to form a tenant association in your own building.
Here are the five resources from the interview, in English y en español.
1. Unsafe Living Conditions / Condiciones de Vivienda Inseguras
English
If your landlord won’t handle repairs or hazardous conditions in your apartment, file a complaint with 311 right here: portal.311.nyc.gov
Español
Si tu propietario no se encarga de las reparaciones o hay condiciones peligrosas en tu apartamento, presenta una queja con el 311 aquí: portal.311.nyc.gov
2. Facing Eviction / Enfrentando un Desalojo
English
Call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline. They’ll connect you with free legal help and eviction defense: Tenant Helpline
Español
Llama al 311 y pide la Tenant Helpline. Te conectarán con ayuda legal gratuita y defensa contra el desalojo: Tenant Helpline
3. Is Your Apartment Rent Stabilized? / ¿Tu Apartamento Tiene Renta Estabilizada?
English
Think your apartment should be rent stabilized? Request your official apartment rent history from New York State here: portal.hcr.ny.gov/app/ask
Español
¿Crees que tu apartamento debería tener renta estabilizada? Solicita tu historial oficial de renta del estado de Nueva York aquí: portal.hcr.ny.gov/app/ask
4. For Landlords and Brokers / Para Propietarios y Corredores
English
Looking for qualified tenants? HRA’s Home Support Unit connects landlords and brokers with subsidized tenants who are ready to move: Home Support Unit
Español
¿Buscas inquilinos calificados? La Home Support Unit de HRA te conecta con inquilinos subsidiados listos para mudarse: Home Support Unit
5. Money for Building Repairs / Dinero para Reparar Edificios
English
Need money for building repairs? HPD’s Loan Program Finder matches building owners with repair loans, financial counseling, and tax exemptions: Loan Program Finder
Español
¿Necesitas dinero para reparar tu edificio? El Loan Program Finder de HPD conecta a los dueños de edificios con préstamos para reparaciones, asesoría financiera y exenciones de impuestos: Loan Program Finder
Watch the Interview
The full conversation is on Instagram. I asked Cea where Bronx tenants should go to learn their rights, what to do about eviction or rent trouble, and how landlords can find qualified tenants. Here it is:
Tenant Resources at a Glance
Unsafe conditions: file a 311 complaint at portal.311.nyc.gov
Eviction defense: call 311, ask for the Tenant Helpline
Rent history: request it from the state at portal.hcr.ny.gov/app/ask
Landlords: find qualified tenants via the Home Support Unit
Building owners: explore repair loans with the Loan Program Finder
Get Every Link by DM
Comment RENT on the Instagram reel and I’ll send you all five links directly, so you have them saved when you need them.
Watch the InterviewNYC Tenant Rights: FAQ
What should I do first if my landlord won’t make repairs?
File a complaint with 311 at portal.311.nyc.gov. It creates an official record and routes your complaint to the right city agency.
I’m facing eviction. Where do I get free legal help in NYC?
Call 311 and ask for the Tenant Helpline. They connect tenants with free legal help and eviction defense resources: Tenant Helpline.
How do I find out if my apartment is rent stabilized?
Request your official rent history from New York State at portal.hcr.ny.gov/app/ask. The Bronx is home to many rent-stabilized apartments, so it’s worth checking.
I’m a landlord with a vacant apartment. How do I find qualified tenants?
Contact HRA’s Home Support Unit. They match landlords and brokers with subsidized tenants who have vouchers and are ready to move.
Housing in New York is complicated, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Start with 311, talk to your neighbors, and know that free help exists.
Which of these resources is new to you? Tell me over on Instagram. ¿Cuál de estos recursos no conocías? Cuéntame en Instagram.
– Diego
