Landlord and Tenant Lawyers in Schenectady

Find the right Tenant attorney in Schenectady, NY

Tenant Law in New York

Relationships between landlords and tenants in Schenectady, New York can get contentious. It's difficult to be a tenant or a landlord. If one or both parties are not aware of their legal rights and responsibilities, conflicts can arise.

Both parties to a landlord/tenant relationship are governed by an extensive body of laws and regulations, defining their legal rights and obligations.

Landlord's Rights in Schenectady, NY

First and foremost, landlords have a right to timely payment of rent from their tenants, at the agreed-upon rate. This, of course, imposes on tenants a duty to pay their rent in full, in a timely manner.

Additionally, landlords have a right to be compensated for damage a tenant causes to a rented unit, either intentionally or negligently. Landlords have a right to deduct repair costs from tenants' security deposits, unless the damage was caused by normal wear and tear, for which tenants are not responsible.

Tenant's Rights in Schenectady, NY

The most basic right of a tenant is the right to a living space that's fit for human habitation. This is, after all, what they're paying the landlord to provide. Landlords in Schenectady, New York are under a legal duty to make sure that their apartments are habitable. There are many factors that are considered in determining if an unit is habitable or not, but, generally, an unit will not be deemed habitable if it lacks any of the following: running water, electricity, heat, and protection from the elements (such as proper insulation, and windows that close).

Additionally, tenants have rights to common areas that are free of physical obstructions, as well as serious health and safety hazards. Common areas are the places in apartment buildings and other residential complexes which every tenant can access, and include hallways, stairwells, and fire escapes. In Schenectady, New York, these areas must be kept in a safe condition, at the landlord's expense.

In the United States, and most likely under the statutes of New York, it is unlawful for renters or sellers of real estate to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin, color, or religion. Doing so can subject a landlord to harsh civil penalties. Additionally, they cannot discriminate based on physical disabilities, either. Tenants with physical disabilities, who are otherwise qualified to rent an apartment (they are able to pay, have good credit, etc.) are entitled to make reasonable modifications to the apartment to make it more accessible to them, and the landlord generally can't bar a tenant from doing this, as long as the modifications are not too extensive, and are reversible. The landlord can, however, require the tenant to remove the modifications, at the tenant's expense, when they move out.

Finally, tenants in most states have a right to be free from unfair eviction. Usually, lease agreements last for a set period of time, and both parties are bound by that contract. Landlords cannot arbitrarily evict clients while the lease is still in effect.

Can a Schenectady, New York Landlord/Tenant Lawyer Help?

Landlords and tenants typically prefer to avoid getting into fights with one another, for noticeable reasons. A harmonious relationship is profitable for everyone involved. To that end, the advice of a good Schenectady, New York landlord/tenant attorney can help defuse arguments before they become too serious.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Schenectady

Schenectady, New York is a city in Schenectady County. It has a population of approximately 61,000 people, making it the ninth-largest city in New York State.

The name is a bit of a mouthful, and was derived from a Mohawk word that roughly translates to "near the pines" or "beyond the pines." It is part of the Albany Metropolitan Area.

The area was first settled by Europeans in 1661, as part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, which comprised most of what is now the state of New York. In the 19th Century, Schenectady became an important transportation hub, connecting the Hudson River to the Great Lakes. In 1887, Thomas Edison moved Edison Machine Works to the city, and it then became the headquarters of General Electric, founded by Edison,which is now one of the largest companies in the world.

Modernly, Schenectady, New York is coming out of the hard economic times which many cities in Upstate New York endured throughout the second half of the 20th Century, but its economic outlook is improving.

If you live in Schenectady, New York and need an attorney, you probably won't have any problem finding the Schenectady, New York lawyer who is right for you.

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