Insights & Case Law
Singh & Rani, LLP Blog
Practical legal guidance and case-law summaries for New Yorkers navigating landlord-tenant disputes, real estate litigation, and short-term rental regulations.
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Court Declares Former Rent-Controlled Apartment Rent-Stabilized: What Tenants Should Know
By Bikram Singh, Esq. | Singh & Rani LLP On October 14, 2026, the New York County Supreme Court (Hon. Matthew V. Grieco) granted partial summary judgment t…
Read article →First Department Revives Tenants' Rent-Stabilization Claim in Petrolawicz v. Ando Realty
Oct 2, 2026 · @Bikram Singh On October 1, 2026, a unanimous five-justice panel of the Appellate Division, First Department, handed our clients a significan…
Read →Published but Never Filed: Brooklyn Housing Court Dismisses LLC Landlord's Holdover Under LLC Law § 206
By Bikram Singh, Esq. | Singh & Rani LLP A landlord that holds its building through a limited liability company has to do more than form the LLC before it…
Read →No Publication, No Lawsuit: Bronx Supreme Court Dismisses an LLC Plaintiff's Action Under LLC Law § 206
By Bikram Singh, Esq. | Singh & Rani LLP Most New Yorkers sued by a limited liability company never ask whether the LLC is allowed to sue in the first plac…
Read →The Numbers Told the Story: First Department Finds a Colorable Claim of Fraud Where Rent Spiked to the Deregulation Threshold — Then Fell Back Below It
By Bikram Singh, Esq. | Singh & Rani LLP --- Since Matter of Regina Metropolitan Co., LLC v New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal, 35 NY…
Read →Appellate Term Affirms: A Pro Se Tenant Does Not Forfeit Her Defenses by Signing a Stipulation
By Singh & Rani LLP --- Tenants who sign stipulations without a lawyer often assume the deal is final. It frequently is not. In 420 E. 80th LLC v Coles, Ci…
Read →You Cannot Renew a Lease Into the Past: A Backdated Renewal Offer Defeats a Martin Act Holdover
By Bikram Singh, Esq. | Singh & Rani LLP --- Four years after the same landlord's first holdover proceeding against the same tenant was dismissed for a ple…
Read →First Department Affirms Tenant's Right to Challenge Deregulation — and Declines to Follow McNeely
By Bikram Singh, Esq. | Singh & Rani LLP --- On April 4, 2024, the Appellate Division, First Department, unanimously affirmed the denial of a landlord's mo…
Read →A Guaranty Covers the Lease It Guaranteed — Not the One That Came After
By Bikram Singh, Esq. | Singh & Rani LLP --- Lease guaranties are full of language that sounds absolute. Remains in full force and effect as to any renewal…
Read →What the Petition Doesn't Say Can Sink the Case: Pleading Martin Act Status in a Co-op Holdover
By Bikram Singh, Esq. | Singh & Rani LLP --- A landlord obtained a final judgment of possession against our client when he failed to appear for trial. Ordi…
Read →Foreclosure
Singh & Rani, LLP highly recommends starting the loss mitigation process with the homeowner’s mortgage company immediately if you are behind in your mortga…
Read →Quitclaim Deeds – What They Are and Their Legal Scope
Definition of a Quitclaim Deed Typically, the owner or co-owner of a property uses a quitclaim deed to relinquish ownership rights to said property in the…
Read →Closing Down Business Due to Covid-19?
Generally, unless you have made some sort of an agreement with the landlord, whereby your landlord agrees to release you from your obligations under the le…
Read →New York County Supreme Court Denies Commercial Landlord’s Motion for Summary Judgment Based On “Frustration of Purpose” Defense due to Covid-19
Defendant argued that the forced closure of Defendant’s shop caused by Covid-19 from March 2020 to June 2020, and the newfound Covid-19 restrictions affect…
Read →Early Termination of Residential Leases
However, recently, the trend to terminate their leases early has been due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tenants are moving out of New York City at higher rate…
Read →Predicate Notice in Airbnb Holdover Defective, Proceeding Dismissed
Horatio St. Partners LLC v. Bowe, NYLJ 8/16/19, NYLJalmID/1565738200NY7867518 NY Co. Civ. Cty. J. Nembhard The tenant moved to dismiss the proceeding alleg…
Read →Coronavirus & Commercial Leases
1. Remain attentive to the newly released government guidelines, laws, directives or orders (whether issued by CDC, federal, state or local government). Ge…
Read →New Law Provides Protection for Tenants From Eviction That Are Experiencing Financial Hardship During Covid-19
The Tenant Safe Harbor Act provides tenants with protection by preventing the courts from evicting residential tenants who experienced financial hardship f…
Read →Frequently Asked Questions For Individuals And Businesses Amid Covid-19 Pandemic.
Answer: Yes. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 202.9, Governor Andrew Cuomo has directed banks to grant a forbearance for ninety (90) days on mortgages to in…
Read →Recent Case Law Interpreting the HSTPA Overcharge Claims, Dugan v. London Terrace Gardens, L.P., 2019 NY Slip Op 06578 (1st Dept. 2019).
Dugan v. London Terrace Gardens, L.P., 2019 NY Slip Op 06578 (1st Dept. 2019). Around 1993, the landlord began deregulating apartments in the London Terrac…
Read →Sweeping Reforms to Rent Overcharge Laws Under the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019
First, the HSTPA extends the statute of limitations for rent over claims from four (4) years to six (6) years. This means that in 2019, when examining an a…
Read →Tenant Did Not Commercialize Apartment or Profit on Large Scale with Airbnb Activity
Case: 207-209W. 107th St. LLC v Doe In defense of the landlord’s claims, the tenant refunded about $2,000.00 to eight of the nine Airbnb renters; argued th…
Read →Brief of 159 MP Corp. v Redbridge Bedford, LLC, 2019 NY Slip Op 03526 (Court of Appeals, 2019)
Issue: In this case, commercial tenants who unambiguously agreed to waive the right to commence a declaratory judgment action as to the terms of their leas…
Read →Helpful Information About Renters' Insurance
This is a repost of an article from consumeradvocate.org, see the original here:(http://helpful-information-about-renters-insurance) When comparison shoppi…
Read →NY Courts Uphold Lease Provisions That Waive a Commercial Tenant’s Right to Seek a Declaratory Judgment
A Yellowstone Injunction is a type of injunction proceeding initiated by a tenant in New York State Supreme Court when the landlord seeks to terminate the…
Read →Whether Two Attorney Stipulations, Which Involve Relinquishing of Rent Regulated Rights Are Enforceable, Must Be Determined At Trial And Not On A Motion For Summary Judgment.
This is a summary holdover eviction proceeding premised on the claim that the premises are not subject to rent regulation and a two-attorney stipulation of…
Read →NYC Short Term Rental Laws
You cannot rent out an entire apartment or home to visitors for less than 30 days, even if you own or live in the building in NYC. NYS Multiple Dwelling La…
Read →What Rights Do The Commercial Tenants Have Against Their Landlords?
1) First the landlord must terminate the tenancy; and The landlord can terminate the tenancy by providing the tenant with written notice, as required by st…
Read →Airbnb Sues NYC Over Law That Forces Disclosure of Listing Information
This past week, Airbnb has sued the City of New York, claiming that a recent law which requires home sharing companies to disclose information about its pa…
Read →Landlord and Construction Personnel Beware of ECB and DOB Violations
Inspectors from the DOB have the power to declare your valuable property as uninhabitable due to the discovery of a violation or lack of compliance with th…
Read →New Tenant Protection Program Combating Landlord Harassment
This new law is designed to create a disincentive towards tenant harassment, by requiring that building owners applying for certain NYC Department of Build…
Read →Profiteering as a Rent Controlled Tenant: An Incurable Ground for Eviction
Profiteering(Sub-tenants & Transient Guests): An Incurable Ground for Eviction The Rent and Eviction Regulations provide that it shall be unlawful “for any…
Read →Profiteering as a Rent Stabilized Tenant: An Incurable Ground for Eviction
With Rent-Stabilized tenants, a prime tenant cannot charge a roommate a rent that exceeds “such occupants’ proportionate share of the legal regulated rent.…
Read →Succession Notice Requirements: Notifying Your Landlord of “Family Members”Residing in Your Apartment Who May be Entitled to Succession Rights
If you are a rent-regulated tenant, you should notify your landlord of such “Family Members” residing in your rent-regulated apartment. Such “Family Member…
Read →Succession Rights: Who is a Family Member?
A "Family members" is defined as a spouse, son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, father, mother, stepfather, stepmother, brother, sister, grandfather, gran…
Read →Tenant Lease Buyouts
Although the applicability of discounted rent may depend on the building size and age, discounted rent apartments in NYC predominantly come in the form of…
Read →Tips for Landlords if He/She Suspects Their Tenant of Engaging in Illegal Airbnb Activity
- Search AirBnB and similar websites for any listings that could be in the landlord’s buildings. Keep records of the findings; - Book the apartment through…
Read →Understanding Succession Rights of a Rent-Regulated Apartment
In general, it is possible for a person who occupies a rent-regulated apartment, to become a tenant, after the primary tenant permanently vacates. This occ…
Read →Determination Made By Department of Housing Preservation and Development Should Be Challenged Through an Article 78 Proceeding
In a recent decision by the Appellate Term, First Department, Judge Susan Avery held that the proper method to challenge a determination made by the New Yo…
Read →Notice to Cure and Notice of Termination Must Allege Facts Sufficient to Sustain a Holdover Proceeding
Judge Sergio Jiminez recently held that in the context of holdover proceeding that both the Notice to Cure and the Notice of Termination must allege a lega…
Read →Landlords’ Liability to the City for Airbnb Violations Issued by the DOB
When it comes to violations issued by the Department of Buildings (DOB), landlords risk the possibility of thousands of dollars in fines and, in extreme si…
Read →The Evolution of the Airbnb Landscape in NYC
The State of New York has been cracking down on Airbnb activity in NYC by implementing laws prohibiting the rental of most apartments for a period of fewer…
Read →Airbnb and the Short-Term Leasing Law – What is forbidden?
The law provides that a short-term rental is any rental for less than 30 days unless a permanent resident is present during the stay. However, according to…
Read →City Council Votes to Pass Regulation Forcing Airbnb to Disclose its Listing Information
The passing of this regulation is a major blow to Airbnb as some estimate over 50,000 people in NYC host on Airbnb. According to Airbnb, a host in NYC has…
Read →Appeal to Vacate Money Judgment Rejected
UndatedBorg v Freeley (2017) In this case a tenant’s application for appeal to vacate a portion of monetary recovery awarded to the landlord in the final judgment…
Read →Bikram Singh Law, P.C. gets the case dismissed!
Undated76 WEST 86TH STREET CORP., Petitioner, v. John JUNAS, et al., Respondent. No. 83992/15.Decided: January 07, 2017Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler, Nahins & Goid…
Read →Bronx Senior Successfully Dismisses Landlord’s Holdover Petition for Having Late Night Visitors
UndatedWalton Avenue Senior HDFC, v. Hiran SantanaCivil Court of the City of New York, Bronx County2016 NY Slip Op 51675(U)23920/2016Decided November 25, 2016 Jud…
Read →Convicted of a misdemeanor or non-violent felony and have remained crime-free for 10 years? You May Be Eligible to Seal Your Criminal Records.
UndatedIf you have been convicted of a criminal crime, you may be eligible to seal your criminal records. A new law that was passed by the NY State Legislature in…
Read →COURT PERMITS TENANT TO AMEND COMPLAINT ALLEGING PREVIOUS LANDLORD FRAUDULENTLY REMOVED APARTMENT FROM REGULATION
UndatedTenants Lisa and Goran Tomic entered into possession of apartment #4 at 92 East Broadway, New York, New York 10002 on May 2007 pursuant to a fair market re…
Read →Judicial Estoppel in a Commercial Lease
UndatedIn Hamilton 65th Partners, LLC v. Smallbone Inc., tenants entered into a lease for the first and second floors of a building, agreeing to pay $33,333.33 fo…
Read →LANDLORD CAN’T SUE TENANT FOR CHRONIC NONPAYMENT WHEN APARTMENT WAS IN NEED OF REPAIRS
UndatedTerrilee 97th Street LLC. V. Alaharzi, 2016 NY Slip Op 51694 (NY App. Div. 2016) Per Curiam.PRESENT: Schoenfeld, J.P., Shulman, Gonzalez, JJ. Landlord, as…
Read →Landlords claim New York appeals court favors tenants
UndatedLandlords are crying foul after a string of decisions by the New York Court of Appeals under Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman that they say have reinterpreted…
Read →Late HPD Registration Doesn't Forfeit a Small Landlord's Back-Rent Claim, Kings County Court Holds
UndatedSingh & Rani LLP Our firm recently defeated a summary judgment motion on behalf of a Brooklyn landlord seeking unpaid rent and property damages from former…
Read →No Holdover Proceeding for Bronx Tenants Who Harbored Dog Openly and Notoriously
Undated167 LLC v. MunizCivil Court of the City of New York, Bronx County2016 NY Slip Op 51745(U)37402/2016 Decided December 8, 2016 Landlord, 167 LLC, commenced a…
Read →NYC Pet Law: Living with Your Pet in a No-Pet Building
UndatedThe New York City Administrative Code § 27-2009.1, overrides a no-pet clause in a residential lease. Under the Pet Law a landlord has waived their right to…
Read →Overview Of Cases On Prevailing Party Status For Attorney Fee Awards In Non-Payment Abatement Cases
UndatedWhen a tenant-respondent receives a partial abatement after a trial in a non-payment proceeding that is brought by a landlord-petitioner, where the landlor…
Read →Potential Environmental Control Board Violations for Airbnb Hosts or Landlords
UndatedSpecifically, the Administrative Code § 28-301.1 provides that, “The owner shall be responsible at all times to maintain the building…in a safe and code-co…
Read →Relocating to Care for Ailing Mother a Defense to Non-Primary Residence Proceeding
Undated710 Madison Avenue LLC (Petitioner) v Christopher Hicks (Respondent) Supreme court appellate term first dept. This case concerned the unsuccessful appeal o…
Read →Rent Accelaration Clause is Enforceable in Commercial Leases
UndatedDuzer Realty Corp. v. Globe Alumni Student Assistance Association, Inc. 12/18/2014 This case involved the enforceability of a rent acceleration clause for…
Read →Renter Beware: A Brief Overview of Laws Governing Airbnb and Short-Term Occupants, Sublets, and Roommates in New York
UndatedFor several years, the City and State of New York have adopted a variety of legal measures in increasing attempts to curtail the use of Airbnb and the prol…
Read →Renters’ Rights in Co-op and Condo Apartment Buildings
UndatedMany cooperatives and condominiums contain renters who live in investor- or sponsor-owned apartments. And although those tenants live in the same building…
Read →Respondent is Entitled to Succession
UndatedElizabeth Apt. LLC, v Betty Eng and Steven Eng (2017) This case concerned the attempted eviction of the respondents Betty and Steven Eng, by the housing co…
Read →Tenant is granted full abatement for constructive eviction period
UndatedDecided on December 19, 2013SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, FIRST DEPARTMENTPRESENT: Shulman, J.P., Hunter, Jr., Torres, JJ13-340. Westhattan Corp., Petitio…
Read →The Potential Property Liability Issues When One Hosts or is a Guest on Airbnb: Premises Liability, Nuisance, and Property Damage
UndatedAs part of the negligence doctrine, premises liability sets forth the fundamental duties owed by an owner or occupier of land to protect those entering the…
Read →The warranty of habitability – bed bug infestation
UndatedThe warrant of habitability is implied in every lease agreement. It requires your landlord to keep the premises in a safe, livable and sanitary condition.…
Read →Understanding a Good Guy Clause
UndatedThe GGC motivates tenants to vacate and surrender possession of the subject premises to the landlord thereby avoiding costly landlord-tenant litigation and…
Read →Understanding And Negotiating Buyout Agreements
UndatedHowever, tenants are becoming more and more aware of their rights in these buyout transactions – if a tenant moves, then the owners can make a lot more mon…
Read →Understanding Your Rights and The Consequences of a DWI Charge
Undated In New York State, DUI and DWI are used interchangeably. Vehicle Traffic Law Section 1192-2 provides that if you are driving with a Blood Alcohol Content…
Read →Understanding Your Tenancy Status in NYC: Are you a Rent Stabilized Tenant?
UndatedIt is quite possible to move into a rent-stabilized apartment and not even know it. Rent-stabilization applies to buildings build prior to 1974, with six (…
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