Tenant Rights in NYC
What number do you call to report a housing issue like no heat or unsafe conditions?
a. 411
b. 911
c. 311
d. 611
c. 311 ✅
What does NYCHA stand for?
a. New York City Housing Agency
b. New Yorkers Can Have Apartments
c. New York City Housing Authority
d. National Youth Center for Housing Access
c. New York City Housing Authority ✅
What are Con Edison and National Grid responsible for?
a. Your credit score
b. Rent increases
c. Electricity and gas services
d. Water and trash pickup
c. Electricity and gas services ✅
What should roommates do before moving in together?
a. Follow each other on Instagram
b. Agree on who gets the bigger room
c. Write a roommate agreement
d. Split a pizza to celebrate
c. Write a roommate agreement ✅
What are common websites to find apartments in NYC?
a. Zillow, Trulia, and Yelp
b. Craigslist, Streeteasy, and Facebook
c. TikTok and Amazon
d. Google Docs
b. Craigslist, Streeteasy, and Facebook ✅
What is a security deposit used for?
a. Paying your last month’s rent automatically
b. Covering damage beyond normal wear and tear
c. A fee the city charges you to move
d. Your reward for good credit
b. Covering damage beyond normal wear and tear ✅
How do people usually get into NYCHA housing?
a. By winning a lottery
b. By applying through the NYCHA website
c. By being chosen at random by brokers
d. Through Instagram housing pages
b. By applying through the NYCHA website ✅
Who usually pays the utilities in NYC?
a. The landlord always pays
b. The city splits it with you
c. It depends on your lease
d. You never have to pay
c. It depends on your lease ✅
What’s one way to avoid conflict with roommates?
a. Never talk to them
b. Only Venmo each other once a year
c. Communicate about cleaning and shared expenses
d. Make them sleep on the couch
c. Communicate about cleaning and shared expenses ✅
What is a lease?
a. A receipt for paying rent
b. A monthly subscription to your building
c. A legal contract that outlines rent, duration, and rules
d. A flyer about available units
c. A legal contract that outlines rent, duration, and rules ✅
Which of the following is NOT a legal reason for a landlord to keep your security deposit?
a. Unpaid rent
b. Holes in the wall from mounted TVs
c. You didn’t clean the fridge
d. You moved out early without notice
d. You moved out early without notice ✅
What percent of your income should go to rent for it to be considered affordable?
a. 10%
b. 30%
c. 50%
d. 70%
b. 30% ✅
What is a rent-stabilized apartment?
a. A place where the rent can only increase by set amounts each year
b. A rent-free apartment
c. A short-term rental
d. A co-living apartment
a. A place where the rent can only increase by set amounts each year ✅
Who is legally responsible for rent if all names are on the lease?
a. Only the oldest person
b. Everyone equally
c. The one with the best credit
d. Just whoever Venmoed last month
b. Everyone equally ✅
What is a sublease?
a. When you lease underwater
b. When you rent from the original tenant, not the landlord
c. When you pay extra to get a better room
d. When your lease is shorter than 3 months
b. When you rent from the original tenant, not the landlord ✅
Why is it important to have your name on the lease?
a. You get access to building Wi-Fi
b. You can’t be legally evicted without a court process
c. It lowers your rent
d. You can’t have guests unless you’re on the lease
b. You can’t be legally evicted without a court process ✅
What’s one major change starting May 1, 2025, in NYC’s affordable re-rental housing process?
a. Tenants must now apply through the city lottery for every re-rental
b. You can now apply directly to landlords or management companies—no more waiting on the lottery
c. Only people with housing vouchers can apply
d. Apartments are only available to first-time renters
b. You can now apply directly to landlords or management companies—no more waiting on the lottery ✅
What documents do you typically need to rent in NYC?
a. A resume and references
b. A driver’s license and gym membership
c. Pay stubs, ID, credit report, and letter of employment
d. A notarized letter from your mom
c. Pay stubs, ID, credit report, and letter of employment ✅
Which of the following could be a red flag when choosing a roommate, even if it seems minor at first?
a. They insist on signing the lease only in your name
b. They ask to take the smaller room to save money
c. They prefer to split groceries and cook together
d. They want to set quiet hours after 10pm
a. They insist on signing the lease only in your name ✅
What’s a key difference between renting from an individual landlord versus a management company that could impact your experience as a tenant?
a. Management companies offer better apartment views
b. Individual landlords must follow different tenant laws
c. Management companies often have formal systems for repairs and rent collection, while landlords may handle things more personally
d. Individual landlords never require a lease
c. Management companies often have formal systems for repairs and rent collection, while landlords may handle things more personally ✅
What are broker’s fees, and are they still legal after June 2025?
a. When you are broke and get charged more for being broke. No.
b. Paying more than listed rent to win the apartment. Yes.
c. Paying someone to show and handle your apartment process. No.
d. A city worker who helps you apply for housing—for a fee. Yes.
c. Paying someone to show and handle your apartment process. No.
What does DHCR stand for and what do they do?
a. Department of Housing and Community Resources – they run the lottery
b. Division of Housing and Community Renewal – they oversee rent regulation
c. Department of Home Credit Reports – they rate your credit
d. Downtown Housing & City Rentals – they manage listings
b. Division of Housing and Community Renewal – they oversee rent regulation ✅
If you can’t afford an apartment on your own, what might a landlord ask for?
a. A co-signer or guarantor
b. A loan from your school
c. A social media audit
d. A deposit of 6 months’ rent
a. A co-signer or guarantor ✅
Which situation might seem fine at first but could cause serious problems in a roommate setup?
a. Your roommate has friends over every weekend
b. Your roommate handles all the bills but refuses to show you the receipts
c. Your roommate works overnight shifts and sleeps during the day
d. Your roommate doesn’t use social media
b. Your roommate handles all the bills but refuses to show you the receipts ✅
Which of the following is a potential downside of renting an apartment listed as “by owner”?
a. You won’t be allowed to decorate the space
b. You’ll be responsible for cleaning common areas
c. The landlord may not follow formal tenant protections or provide proper documentation
d. The apartment will be more expensive than market rate
c. The landlord may not follow formal tenant protections or provide proper documentation ✅