You found the apartment. The price is manageable. The landlord seems fine. Now they're handing you a lease and asking for a check.

Stop.

In New York City, signing a lease without knowing what you're looking at is one of the most expensive mistakes a renter can make. The protections are real — but only if you know to ask for them. Landlords aren't going to volunteer that information.

Here's what to check before you sign anything.

Since the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, landlords cannot legally require tenants to pay broker fees when the landlord hired the broker. If a broker found you the apartment on the landlord's behalf, the landlord pays.

This rule has been fought in court repeatedly. It has held. If you found the listing on StreetEasy, Zillow, or a building website, and a broker is now telling you that you owe them 15% of annual rent, that's a signal worth questioning. Ask who hired the broker and get the answer in writing.

The only legal exception: if you hired the broker yourself (i.e., you sought them out to find apartments for you), you may owe a fee under the terms you agreed to.

What to do: Before signing, ask the landlord directly whether they hired the broker. Document the answer by email.

Landlords can charge an application fee — but only up to $20 per applicant under state law, and they must provide a receipt and a copy of any consumer report they pull. They cannot charge you for anything else before a lease is signed.

If you paid $50, $75, or "first month + broker fee" before getting a signed lease — that's a problem worth flagging.

New York State law requires landlords to attach several riders to every residential lease. If they're missing, that's a serious red flag. Demand them before signing:

Lead Paint Disclosure (Pre-1978 Buildings)
If the building was constructed before 1978, federal law requires a lead paint disclosure. The landlord must disclose any known lead paint hazards and provide you with a copy of the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home." This is non-negotiable — missing this disclosure can expose the landlord to federal penalties.

Window Guard Notice
If a child under 10 years old will live in your apartment, your landlord must install window guards. Even if no children will live there, they're required to ask — and to give you the window guard option. This disclosure must be in writing, usually attached to the lease.

Bedbug Disclosure
NYC landlords must disclose, in writing, the bedbug infestation history of the apartment and the building for the previous year. This is a legal requirement under NYC Administrative Code. If the landlord says they "don't have that" or acts confused, that's a problem.

Rent Stabilization Rider (If Applicable)
If your apartment is rent stabilized, the landlord is required to attach the official rent stabilization rider to the lease. This rider spells out your rights: legal regulated rent, renewal rights, what increases are allowed.

Here's the catch: landlords don't always volunteer this information. Many tenants live in stabilized apartments for years without knowing they're entitled to renewal at a regulated rent.

How to check: Go to nyc.gov/hpd and look up your address, or use the NYC Rent Guidelines Board's apartment lookup tool. If the building appears there, ask your landlord directly whether the unit is rent stabilized. Get the answer in writing.

Since 2019, New York landlords cannot charge more than one month's rent as a security deposit — regardless of your rental history, credit score, or their preference. If they're asking for "last month plus security," that's illegal. If they're asking for two months "just to be safe," that's illegal.

They must also return your security deposit within 14 days of move-out, with an itemized list of any deductions. Failure to do so can result in you getting double the deposit back.

What to do: If a landlord asks for more than one month as deposit, cite the HSTPA and ask them to correct it. If they won't, that's a serious sign of either ignorance or bad faith.

"The landlord said they'd repaint before I move in."
"The landlord said the super would fix the bathroom."
"The landlord said the lease is month-to-month after the first year."

None of that is enforceable unless it's in the lease or a written addendum.

Before you sign, write down every promise made verbally during the showing and ask for each one to be either added to the lease or confirmed by email. Most landlords won't object to this. The ones who do are telling you something important.

Most NYC residential leases use a standard form, but riders and modifications can add anything. Look for:

Before handing over a check, do a walkthrough and photograph every inch of the apartment. Note any existing damage in writing and send it to the landlord by email. This is your evidence if they try to charge you for pre-existing damage when you move out.

Most security deposit disputes come down to what condition the apartment was in at move-in. Your photos and written documentation are what protects you.

Once you sign, you're financially responsible for that apartment — and for everything inside it. Your landlord's building insurance covers the structure. It does not cover your belongings, your liability, or your costs if you're displaced after a fire or flood.

NYC renters insurance typically runs $10–20 a month and covers exactly that. Lemonade offers renters insurance built for NYC — fast quotes, month-to-month, and specific coverage options for city-specific risks like theft and water damage. It takes about two minutes to get a quote.

Signing a lease is a contract. Go in knowing what it says.

The Metro Intel covers housing, money, and local intel for New Yorkers across all five boroughs.