In common parlance the term harassment is often used broadly to describe any annoying or antagonistic behavior, but the legal definition of harassment in landlord/tenant law is more specific.
The Tenant Protection Act, or Local Law 7, passed in March 2008, created a legal claim for New York City tenants if their landlord is engaging in specific actions, or failing to comply with legal obligations, in a concerted effort to force the tenants out of their apartment, or to pressure the tenants to give up their rights. A tenant may file a claim for harassment under local law 7 in housing court, after first contacting the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), or the tenant may raise harassment as a defense or counterclaim to a housing court case brought by the landlord.
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Some of the things that the court will look for to determine whether the landlord is engaging in harassment are:
use of force or threats against legal occupants
repeated interruptions or discontinuance of heat, hot water, or other essential services for an extended period of time
failure to comply with a vacate order
filing repeated frivolous court proceedings
removing /destroying the belongings of any legal occupant, or
interfering with the ability of a lawful occupant to enter the building by removing or tampering with the entry door and/or door lock.
Rent stabilized and rent controlled tenants may also file a harassment complaint with the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). The complaint form is available here.