NYC residential leases must include five city-specific notices: the Bedbug Infestation Disclosure (NYC Admin Code §27-2018.1), the Window Guard Notice (NYC Health Code §131.15), the Indoor Allergen Hazard Notice (Local Law 55), the Stove Knob Cover Notice (NYC Admin Code §27-2046.4), and the Smoking Policy Disclosure (Local Law 147). New York State requires three additional disclosures on top of those: a flood zone and flood history notice, a sprinkler system statement, and a written security deposit receipt identifying where the funds are held. A complete NYC lease packet includes all eight.
Do NYC leases need to be notarized?
No. A residential lease agreement in New York City does not need to be notarized to be legally valid. What is required is that the lease be signed by the landlord and all tenants. For leases longer than one year, New York law requires the agreement to be in writing but notarization is not part of that requirement.
Can a landlord charge more than one month's security deposit in New York City?
No. Under New York's 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, landlords across New York State (including New York City) are prohibited from collecting a security deposit greater than one month's rent for most residential leases. The landlord must hold the deposit in a separate account, and is required by law to provide a written receipt identifying the bank and branch where the funds are held.
What NYC Landlords Are Required to Include in a Lease Agreement
Published on 2/22/2026
If you're renting out a New York City apartment, your lease needs to include more than rent terms and a security deposit clause. NYC landlords are required by law to attach five specific city notices and three New York State disclosures to every residential lease. Together, those eight items form the disclosure package that distinguishes a professional NYC lease from a generic residential template. Missing even one can create real exposure with HPD (Department of Housing Preservation and Development) or DOHMH (Department of Health & Mental Hygiene).
This guide covers each required notice and what it actually asks landlords to do.
For context on the three New York State disclosures that apply statewide (flood history, sprinkler system, and security deposit receipt) see our New York State lease agreement guide. The NYC-specific notices below are layered on top of those. For a broader overview of what every residential lease should cover regardless of jurisdiction, see the essential elements of a lease agreement.
Window Guard Notice (NYC Health Code §131.15)
If a child age 10 or younger lives in the unit (or if a tenant simply requests them) you are required to install window guards. To document this, the lease must include the official Window Guard Notice. It asks tenants whether a young child lives in the apartment and whether they want guards installed. Tenants must return the form, and landlords must act on it.
Notice
Local court rules may require additional forms. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Document
Pre-1978 Residential Lease Agreement (New York City)
$35.00+ tax
Are NYC landlords required to provide window guards?
Yes, under NYC Health Code §131.15. If a child age 10 or younger lives in the unit (or if a tenant requests them for any reason) the landlord is required to install window guards. The lease must include a Window Guard Notice asking tenants whether a young child lives in the apartment and whether they want guards installed. Tenants must return the completed form, and the landlord is required to act on the response.
What disclosures are required in an NYC lease for a building built before 1978?
An NYC lease for a pre-1978 building must comply with an additional federal requirement. Federal law requires a lead paint disclosure, which requires documenting known hazards in the property and providing tenants with the EPA pamphlet 'Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home' before signing.
Window guard violations are among the most strictly enforced in the city. If a child is injured and no notice was provided, your exposure as a landlord is significant.
Before a tenant signs, you must disclose the unit's and building's bedbug history using the official HPD Bedbug Disclosure Form. The form covers any infestations and remediation efforts in the previous 12 months.
This requirement is less about being negative press for the landlord and more about documentation. Providing it upfront establishes a clear record and gives you a defensible position if issues arise later.
Indoor Allergen Hazard Inspection & Disclosure (Local Law 55)
Under Local Law 55, NYC landlords are responsible for annual inspections and remediation of indoor allergen hazards, including mold, mice, rats, and cockroaches.
The lease must include two items:
1.
The Indoor Allergen Hazards Notice confirming your compliance and
2.
HPD's Local Law 55 Guide, a tenant information sheet covering mold, pests, and safe cleaning standards.
Stove Knob Covers (NYC Admin Code §27-2046.4)
If a child age 6 or younger lives in the unit (or if a tenant requests them) you are required to provide stove knob safety covers.
The lease or renewal package must include the Stove Knob Cover Notice asking tenants:
1.
Whether a young child lives there and/or
2.
Whether they want covers installed
The landlord must install them within 30 days of receiving the form.
Smoking Policy Disclosure (Local Law 147)
Any residential building with three or more units must have a written smoking policy and disclose it to all tenants. You are not required to prohibit smoking, but you are required to be specific: where it is and is not permitted (balconies, courtyards, individual units, etc.).
The smoking policy must be:
•
Available to all current tenants
•
Provided to all new tenants before lease signing
•
Included in the lease or in the lease packet
Rent Stablized Properties
If the property is rent stabilized, the lease must also include the Rent Stabilization Rider. This is a separate legal requirement that applies on top of everything above.
Pre-1978 buildings: the federal lead paint disclosure
For buildings constructed before 1978, a ninth requirement applies on top of the eight covered above. The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act requires landlords of pre-1978 properties to complete a specific disclosure before a tenant signs: a written form documenting any known lead-based paint or lead paint hazards in the property, the EPA pamphlet "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home" given to the tenant before signing, and a signed tenant acknowledgment confirming receipt.
This is a federal requirement, not a city or state one. It applies regardless of the unit's rent regulation status, building size, or borough. A lease that is missing the disclosure section is legally incomplete for almost all pre-1978 NYC property, even if every one of the eight city and state notices is included correctly.
NYC landlords with a child under six in a pre-1978 building also face separate obligations under Local Law 1, which requires annual lead paint hazard inspections and remediation. That is a property maintenance obligation distinct from what the lease disclosure covers.
If your building was constructed before 1978, Legal Opus offers a pre-1978 NYC lease agreement that includes all eight required city and state disclosures plus the federally required lead paint disclosure. Starts at $35, no subscription.
What a Professional NYC Lease Package Includes
A properly assembled NYC residential lease packet should include:
•
Residential Lease Agreement (New York-specific)
•
Window Guard Notice
•
Bedbug Disclosure Form
•
Indoor Allergen Hazard Notice
•
Stove Knob Cover Request Form
•
Smoking Policy Disclosure
•
Rent Stabilization Rider (if applicable)
•
Lead Paint Disclosure Form (if the building was built before 1978)
Each of these has a specific format required by the city. Substituting a generic notice or skipping one because it seems unlikely to apply is the kind of shortcut that tends to create problems exactly when you don't want them.
Putting It Together
NYC's lease requirements exist because the city takes tenant safety seriously, particularly for children and seniors. For landlords, the disclosures are also practical protections: a complete, properly documented lease packet establishes the ground rules clearly and gives you a paper trail if a dispute arises later. For most leases, New York State also requires you to issue a security deposit receipt identifying the bank where the funds are held.
Legal Opus has a residential lease agreement built for New York City with the eight required disclosures already included. Fill in your details, see the document take shape as you go, and download a complete, ready-to-sign package. It starts at $35, no subscription.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Pre-1978 Residential Lease Agreement (New York City)
New York City
You found a tenant for a New York City apartment or property built before 1978. That means three layers of required documentation: eight required NYC and NY state disclosures and the federal lead paint disclosure, which most generic lease templates still leave out.
Professional-quality template for New York City, with all three layers included. Starts at $35, no subscription.
This New York City Residential Lease Agreement covers
The federally required lead paint disclosure: Document known hazards (or lack thereof) and obtain required tenant acknowledgment
All five required NYC notices, pre-attached: Bedbug disclosure (prior year's history), window guards, indoor allergen hazard inspection, stove knob covers, and your building's smoking policy
Three mandatory New York State disclosures: Flood zone status and history, sprinkler system status, and a written security deposit receipt identifying the bank and branch where the funds are held
What happens when a rent check bounces, including what you can charge
When a tenant goes silent or disappears: what counts as abandonment and what steps you can take next
What counts as uninhabitable and what doesn't
When one co-tenant stops paying, whether the others are on the hook for the full rent
Whether your tenant can sublet or hand the lease off to someone else
When you can enter the property and how much advance notice is required
For condominium rentals, the tenant's obligation to comply with condo association rules and documents
And more terms
Pre-1978 Residential Lease Agreement (New York City) | Legal Opus
